As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 30, 2019
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 20-F
(Mark One)
REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
OR
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from to .
SHELL COMPANY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of event requiring this shell company report .
Commission file number 000-53445
KB Financial Group Inc.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
(Translation of Registrant’s name into English)
The Republic of Korea
(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
26, Gukjegeumyung-ro 8-gil,Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul 07331, Korea
(Address of principal executive offices)
Peter BongJoong Kwon
11F, Kookmin Bank, 26, Gukjegeumyung-ro 8-gil, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul 07331, Korea
Telephone No.:+82-2-2073-2824
Facsimile No.:+82-2-2073-2848
(Name, telephone, e-mail and/or facsimile number and address of company contact person)
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act.
Title of each class
Name of each exchange on which registered
American Depositary Shares, each representing one share of
Common Stock
Common Stock, par value ￦5,000 per share
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act.
None
Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act.
Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuer’s classes of capital or common stock as of the close of the period covered by the annual report.
395,551,297 shares of Common Stock, par value ￦5,000 per share
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. ☒ Yes ☐ No
If this report is an annual or transition report, indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. ☐ Yes ☒ No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. ☒ Yes ☐ No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). ☒ Yes ☐ No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act:
☒ Large accelerated filer ☐ Accelerated filer ☐ Non-accelerated filer ☐ Emerging growth company
If an emerging growth company that prepares its financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act: ☐ Yes ☐ No
Indicate by check mark which basis of accounting the registrant has used to prepare the financial statements included in this filing:
☐ U.S. GAAP
If “Other” has been checked in response to the previous question, indicate by check mark which financial statement item the registrant has elected to follow. ☐ Item 17 ☐ Item 18
If this is an annual report, indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). ☐ Yes ☒ No
* Not for trading, but only in connection with the registration of the American Depositary Shares.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Item 1.
IDENTITY OF DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND ADVISERS
Item 2.
OFFER STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE
Item 3.
KEY INFORMATION
Item 3.A.
Selected Financial Data
Item 3.B.
Capitalization and Indebtedness
Item 3.C.
Reasons for the Offer and Use of Proceeds
Item 3.D.
Risk Factors
Item 4.
INFORMATION ON THE COMPANY
Item 4.A.
History and Development of the Company
Item 4.B.
Business Overview
Item 4.C.
Organizational Structure
Item 4.D.
Property, Plants and Equipment
Item 4A.
UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
Item 5.
OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS
Item 5.A.
Operating Results
Item 5.B.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Item 5.C.
Research and Development, Patents and Licenses, etc.
Item 5.D.
Trend Information
Item 5.E.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
Item 5.F.
Tabular Disclosure of Contractual Obligations
Item 5.G.
Safe Harbor
Item 6.
DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES
Item 6.A.
Directors and Senior Management
Item 6.B.
Compensation
Item 6.C.
Board Practices
Item 6.D.
Employees
Item 6.E.
Share Ownership
Item 7.
MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Item 7.A.
Major Shareholders
Item 7.B.
Related Party Transactions
Item 7.C.
Interests of Experts and Counsel
Item 8.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 8.A.
Consolidated Statements and Other Financial Information
Item 8.B.
Significant Changes
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Item 9.
THE OFFER AND LISTING
Item 9.A.
Item 9.B.
Item 9.C.
Item 9.D.
Item 9.E.
Item 9.F.
Item 10.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Item 10.A.
Item 10.B.
Item 10.C.
Item 10.D.
Item 10.E.
Item 10.F.
Item 10.G.
Item 10.H.
Item 10.I.
Item 11.
QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Item 12.
DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES OTHER THAN EQUITY SECURITIES
Item 13.
DEFAULTS, DIVIDEND ARREARAGES AND DELINQUENCIES
Item 14.
Item 15.
CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Item 16.
[RESERVED]
Item 16A.
AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT
Item 16B.
CODE OF ETHICS
Item 16C.
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
Item 16D.
EXEMPTIONS FROM THE LISTING STANDARDS FOR AUDIT COMMITTEES
Item 16E.
PURCHASE OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY THE ISSUER AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS
Item 16F.
CHANGE IN REGISTRANT’S CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANT
Item 16G.
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Item 16H.
MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE
Item 17.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Item 18.
Item 19.
EXHIBITS
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PRESENTATION OF FINANCIAL AND OTHER INFORMATION
The financial statements included in this annual report are prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards, or IFRS, as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board, or IASB. As such, we make an explicit and unreserved statement of compliance with IFRS as issued by the IASB with respect to our consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2017 and 2018 and for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018 included in this annual report. Unless indicated otherwise, the financial information in this annual report as of and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 has been prepared in accordance with IFRS as issued by the IASB, which is not comparable to information prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, or U.S. GAAP.
In accordance with rule amendments adopted by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission which became effective on March 4, 2008, we are not required to provide a reconciliation to U.S. GAAP.
Unless expressly stated otherwise, all financial data included in this annual report are presented on a consolidated basis.
In this annual report:
references to “we,” “us” or “KB Financial Group” are to KB Financial Group Inc. and, unless the context otherwise requires, its subsidiaries;
references to “Korea” are to the Republic of Korea;
references to the “government” are to the government of the Republic of Korea;
references to “Won” or “￦” are to the currency of Korea; and
references to “U.S. dollars,” “$” or “US$” are to United States dollars.
Discrepancies between totals and the sums of the amounts contained in any table may be a result of rounding.
For your convenience, this annual report contains translations of Won amounts into U.S. dollars at the noon buying rate of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York for Won in effect on December 31, 2018, which was ￦1,112.85 = US$1.00.
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FORWARD-LOOKINGSTATEMENTS
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission encourages companies to discloseforward-looking information so that investors can better understand a company’s future prospects and make informed investment decisions. This annual report containsforward-looking statements.
Words and phrases such as “aim,” “anticipate,” “assume,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “continue,” “estimate,” “expect,” “future,” “goal,” “intend,” “may,” “objective,” “plan,” “positioned,” “predict,” “project,” “risk,” “seek to,” “shall,” “should,” “will likely result,” “will pursue,” “plan” and words and terms of similar substance used in connection with any discussion of future operating or financial performance or our expectations, plans, projections or business prospects identify forward-looking statements. In particular, the statements under the headings “Item 3.D. Risk Factors,” “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects” and “Item 4.B. Business Overview” regarding our financial condition and other future events or prospects are forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are management’s present expectations of future events and are subject to a number of factors and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements.
In addition to the risks related to our business discussed under “Item 3.D. Risk Factors,” other factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to:
our ability to successfully implement our strategy;
future levels of non-performing loans;
our growth and expansion;
the adequacy of allowances for credit and investment losses;
technological changes;
interest rates;
investment income;
availability of funding and liquidity;
cash flow projections;
our exposure to market risks; and
adverse market and regulatory conditions.
By their nature, certain disclosures relating to these and other risks are only estimates and could be materially different from what actually occurs in the future. As a result, actual future gains, losses or impact on our income or results of operations could materially differ from those that have been estimated. For example, revenues could decrease, costs could increase, capital costs could increase, capital investment could be delayed and anticipated improvements in performance might not be fully realized.
In addition, other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those estimated by the forward-looking statements contained in this annual report could include, but are not limited to:
general economic and political conditions in Korea or other countries that have an impact on our business activities or investments;
the monetary and interest rate policies of Korea;
inflation or deflation;
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unanticipated volatility in interest rates;
foreign exchange rates;
prices and yields of equity and debt securities;
the performance of the financial markets in Korea and globally;
changes in domestic and foreign laws, regulations and taxes;
changes in competition and the pricing environments in Korea; and
regional or general changes in asset valuations.
For further discussion of the factors that could cause actual results to differ, see the discussion under “Item 3.D. Risk Factors” contained in this annual report. We caution you not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this annual report. Except as required by law, we are not under any obligation, and expressly disclaim any obligation, to update or alter any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
All subsequent forward-looking statements attributable to us or any person acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to in this annual report.
Not applicable.
The selected consolidated financial and operating data as of and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 set forth below have been derived from our audited consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with IFRS as issued by the IASB. Our consolidated financial statements as of and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 have been audited by independent registered public accounting firm Samil PricewaterhouseCoopers.
IFRS 9Financial Instruments, or IFRS 9, is effective for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2018 and replaces International Accounting Standard 39 Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement, or IAS 39. We have applied IFRS 9 in our consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2018 included elsewhere in this annual report. As permitted by the transition rules of IFRS 9, our consolidated financial statements as of and for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2017 included elsewhere in this annual report have not been restated to retroactively apply IFRS 9. For information regarding the impact of the application of IFRS 9 to our consolidated financial statements, see “Item 5.A. Operating Results—Overview—Changes in Accounting Policies—Adoption of IFRS 9” and Notes 2.1 and 45 of the notes to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this annual report.
You should read the following data together with the more detailed information contained in “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects” and our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this annual report. Historical results do not necessarily predict future results.
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Consolidated statements of comprehensive income data
Interest income(1)
Interest expense
Net interest income(1)
Fee and commission income
Fee and commission expense
Net fee and commission income
Insurance income(2)
Insurance expense(2)
Net insurance income (expenses)(2)
Net gains (losses) on financial assets and liabilities at fair value through profit or loss(1)
Net gains (losses) on financial assets and liabilities at fair value through profit or loss (under IAS 39)(1)
Net other operating income (expenses)(2)
General and administrative expenses
Operating profit before provision for credit losses
Provision for credit losses
Net operating profit
Share of profit (loss) of associates and joint ventures
Net other non-operating income (expenses)
Net non-operating profit (loss)
Profit before income tax
Tax income (expenses)
Profit for the year
Items that will not be reclassified to profit or loss:
Remeasurements of net defined benefit
Shares of other comprehensive income of associates and joint ventures
Revaluation gains on equity instruments at fair value through other comprehensive income
Fair value changes on financial liabilities designated at fair value due to own credit risk
Items that may be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss:
Exchange differences on translating foreign operations
Net gains on financial instruments at fair value through other comprehensive income
Valuation gains (losses) on financial investments
Shares of other comprehensive income (loss) of associates and joint ventures
Cash flow hedges
Gains (losses) on hedges of a net investment in a foreign operation
Other comprehensive income of separate account
Net gains (losses) on overlay adjustment
Other comprehensive income (loss) for the year, net of tax
Total comprehensive income for the year
Profit attributable to:
Shareholders of the parent company
Non-controlling interests
Total comprehensive income attributable to:
Earnings per share
Basic earnings per share
Diluted earnings per share
4
Prior to 2018, interest income arising from financial assets at fair value through profit or loss was recorded as part of net gains (losses) on financial assets and liabilities at fair value through profit or loss. Pursuant to a change in our accounting policies which became effective as of January 1, 2018, commencing in such year, interest income arising from financial assets at fair value through profit or loss is recorded as part of interest income, instead of as part of net gains (losses) on financial assets and liabilities at fair value through profit or loss. Interest income arising from financial assets at fair value through profit or loss for prior years has been reclassified accordingly. See Note 2. 1 of the notes to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this annual report.
Prior to 2017, insurance income and expense of KB Life Insurance Co., Ltd., our life insurance subsidiary, and KB Kookmin Card Co., Ltd., our credit card subsidiary, were recorded as part of other operating income and expenses. In May 2017, KB Insurance Co., Ltd., a non-life insurance company, became our consolidated subsidiary pursuant to a tender offer (and became a wholly-owned subsidiary in July 2017 pursuant to a comprehensive stock swap). See “Item 5.A. Operating Results—Overview—Acquisitions.” As a result, commencing in 2017, insurance income and expense (comprising insurance income and expense of KB Life Insurance and KB Kookmin Card, as well as insurance income and expense of KB Insurance from the date of its consolidation) are recorded as separate line items, instead of as part of other operating income and expenses. Insurance income and expense of KB Life Insurance and KB Kookmin Card for prior years have been reclassified accordingly.
Figures for 2018 reflect the application of IFRS 9 and therefore may not be directly comparable to corresponding figures for prior years. See Notes 2.1 and 45 of the notes to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this annual report.
Won amounts are expressed in U.S. dollars at the rate of ￦1,112.85 to US$1.00, the noon buying rate in effect on December 31, 2018 as quoted by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York in the United States.
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Consolidated statements of financial position data
Assets
Cash and due from financial institutions
Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss
Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss (IAS 39)
Derivative financial assets
Loans
Financial investments
Investments in associates and joint ventures
Property and equipment
Investment property
Intangible assets
Net defined benefit assets
Current income tax assets
Deferred income tax assets
Assets held for sale
Other assets
Total assets
Liabilities
Financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss
Financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss (IAS 39)
Derivative financial liabilities
Deposits
Debts
Debentures
Provisions
Net defined benefit liabilities
Current income tax liabilities
Deferred income tax liabilities
Insurance contract liabilities(1)
Other liabilities(1)
Total liabilities
Total Equity
Capital stock
Capital surplus
Accumulated other comprehensive income
Retained earnings
Treasury shares
Equity attributable to shareholders of the parent company
Total equity
Total liabilities and equity
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Prior to 2017, insurance contract liabilities of KB Life Insurance, our life insurance subsidiary, and KB Kookmin Card, our credit card subsidiary, were recorded as part of other liabilities. In May 2017, KB Insurance, a non-life insurance company, became our consolidated subsidiary pursuant to a tender offer (and became a wholly-owned subsidiary in July 2017 pursuant to a comprehensive stock swap). See “Item 5.A. Operating Results—Overview—Acquisitions.” As a result, commencing as of December 31, 2017, insurance contract liabilities (comprising such liabilities of KB Life Insurance, KB Kookmin Card and KB Insurance) are recorded as separate line items, instead of as part of other liabilities. Insurance contract liabilities of KB Life Insurance and KB Kookmin Card as of prior dates have been reclassified accordingly.
Figures as of December 31, 2018 reflect the application of IFRS 9 and therefore may not be directly comparable to corresponding figures as of prior dates. See Notes 2.1 and 45 of the notes to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this annual report.
Profitability ratios and other data
Profit (loss) attributable to stockholders as a percentage of:
Average total assets(1)
Average stockholders’ equity(1)
Dividend payout ratio(2)
Net interest spread(3)
Net interest margin(4)
Efficiency ratio(5)
Cost-to-averageassets ratio(6)
Won loans (gross) as a percentage of Won deposits
Total loans (gross) as a percentage of total deposits
Average balances are based on daily balances for our banking, credit card and investment and securities operations and monthly or quarterly balances for our other operations.
Represents the ratio of total dividends declared on common stock as a percentage of profit attributable to stockholders.
Represents the difference between the yield on average interest earning assets and cost of average interest bearing liabilities.
Represents the ratio of net interest income to average interest earning assets.
Represents the ratio of general and administrative expenses to the sum of net interest income, net fee and commission income, net gain on financial assets and liabilities at fair value through profit or loss and net other operating income.
Represents the ratio of general and administrative expenses to average total assets.
Capital ratios
Consolidated capital adequacy ratio of KB Financial Group(1)
Capital adequacy ratios of Kookmin Bank
Tier I capital adequacy ratio(2)
Common equity Tier I capital adequacy ratio(2)
Tier II capital adequacy ratio(2)
Average stockholders’ equity as a percentage of average total assets
Under applicable guidelines of the Financial Services Commission, we, as a bank holding company, were required to maintain a total minimum consolidated capital adequacy ratio of 10.625% (including applicable additional capital buffers and requirements) as of December 31, 2018. See “Item 4.B. Business Overview—Supervision and Regulation—Principal Regulations Applicable to Financial Holding Companies—Capital Adequacy.”
Kookmin Bank’s capital adequacy ratios are computed in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Financial Services Commission. See “Item 4.B. Business Overview—Supervision and Regulation—Principal Regulations Applicable to Banks—Capital Adequacy.”
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Credit portfolio ratios and other data
Total loans(1)
Total non-performing loans(2)
Other impaired loans not included in non-performingloans
Total of non-performing loans and other impaired loans
Total allowances for loan losses
Non-performing loans as a percentage of total loans
Non-performing loans as a percentage of total assets
Total of non-performing loans and other impaired loans as a percentage of total loans
Allowances for loan losses as a percentage of total loans
Before deduction of allowances for loan losses.
Non-performing loans are defined as those loans, including corporate, retail and other loans, which are past due by 90 days or more.
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Selected Statistical Information
Average Balance Sheets and Related Interest
The following table shows our average balances and interest rates for the past three years:
Cash and interest earning deposits in other banks
Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss (debt securities)(4)
Financial investments (debt securities)(5)
Loans:
Corporate
Mortgage
Home equity
Other consumer(6)
Credit cards(7)
Foreign
Loans (total)
Total average interest earning assets
Cash and due from banks
Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss (excluding debt securities):
Equity securities
Other
Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss (excluding debt securities) (total)
Financial investment (equity securities)
Investment in associates
Premises and equipment
Allowances for loan losses
Other non-interest earning assets
Total average non-interest earning assets
Total average assets
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Deposits:
Demand deposits
Time deposits
Certificates of deposit
Deposits (total)
Debts(8)
Total average interest bearing liabilities
Non-interest bearing demand deposits
Other non-interest bearing liabilities
Total average non-interest bearing liabilities
Total average liabilities
Total average liabilities and equity
We do not invest in any tax-exempt securities.
Includes interest income from financial assets at fair value through profit or loss.
For 2018 only, includes deposits and loans at fair value through profit or loss. For information on interest income arising from such financial instruments, see Note 27 of the notes to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this annual report.
Comprises financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income and at amortized cost (or available-for-sale and held-to-maturity financial assets). For 2018 only, also includes loans at fair value through other comprehensive income. For information on interest income arising from such financial instruments, see Note 27 of the notes to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this annual report. Information related to investment securities classified as financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income (or available-for-sale financial assets) has been computed using amortized cost, and therefore does not give effect to changes in fair value that are reflected as a component of total equity.
Includes other interest income
Interest income from credit cards includes principally cash advance fees of ￦210 billion, ￦216 billion and ￦223 billion and interest on credit card loans of ￦525 billion, ￦629 billion and ￦704 billion for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018, respectively, but does not include interchange fees.
Includes other interest expense.
The following table presents our net interest spread, net interest margin, and asset liability ratio for the past three years:
Net interest spread(1)
Net interest margin(2)
Average asset liability ratio(3)
The difference between the average rate of interest earned on interest earning assets and the average rate of interest paid on interest bearing liabilities.
10
The ratio of net interest income to average interest earning assets, and reflects the application of the 2018 Accounting Policy Change.
The ratio of average interest earning assets to average interest bearing liabilities.
Analysis of Changes in Net Interest Income—Volume and Rate Analysis
The following table provides an analysis of changes in interest income, interest expense and net interest income based on changes in volume and changes in rate for 2016 compared to 2017 and 2017 compared to 2018. Information is provided with respect to: (1) effects attributable to changes in volume (changes in volume multiplied by prior rate) and (2) effects attributable to changes in rate (changes in rate multiplied by prior volume). Changes attributable to the combined impact of changes in rate and volume have been allocated proportionately to the changes due to volume changes and changes due to rate changes.
Interest earning assets
Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss (debt securities)(1)
Financial investments (debt securities)(2)
Other consumer
Credit cards
Total interest income
Interest bearing liabilities
Total interest expense
Total net interest income
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Risks relating to our retail credit portfolio
Future changes in market conditions as well as other factors may lead to increases in delinquency levels of our retail loan portfolio.
In recent years, consumer debt has increased significantly in Korea. Our portfolio of retail loans, including mortgage and home equity loans, increased from ￦124,194 billion as of December 31, 2015 to ￦134,956 billion as of December 31, 2016, ￦146,150 billion as of December 31, 2017 and ￦158,807 billion as of December 31, 2018. As of December 31, 2018, our domestic retail loans represented 49.3% of our total lending. Within our retail loan portfolio, the outstanding balance of other consumer loans, which unlike mortgage or home equity loans are often unsecured and therefore tend to carry a higher credit risk, increased from ￦36,312 billion as of December 31, 2015 to ￦56,200 billion as of December 31, 2018; as a percentage of total outstanding retail loans, such balance increased from 29.2% as of December 31, 2015 to 35.4% as of December 31, 2018. The growth of our retail lending business, which generally offers higher margins than other lending activities, has contributed significantly to our interest income and profitability in recent years.
The growth of our retail loan portfolio, together with fluctuating economic conditions in Korea and globally in recent years, may lead to increases in delinquency levels and a deterioration in asset quality. The amount of our non-performing retail loans (defined as those loans that are past due by 90 days or more) decreased from ￦329 billion as of December 31, 2015 to ￦272 billion as of December 31, 2016 and ￦252 billion as of December 31, 2017, but increased to ￦304 billion as of December 31, 2018. Higher delinquencies in our retail loan portfolio in the future will require us to increase our loan loss provisions and charge-offs, which in turn will adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
Our large exposure to consumer debt means that we are exposed to changes in economic conditions affecting Korean consumers. Accordingly, economic difficulties in Korea that hurt consumers could result in a deterioration in the credit quality of our retail loan portfolio. For example, a rise in unemployment, an increase in interest rates or a decline in real estate prices in Korea could adversely affect the ability of consumers to make payments and increase the likelihood of potential defaults. See “Risks relating to Korea—Unfavorable financial and economic developments in Korea may have an adverse effect on us.” In order to minimize our risk as a result of such exposure, we are continuing to strengthen our risk management processes, including further improving the retail lending process, upgrading our retail credit rating system, as well as strengthening the overall management of our portfolio. Despite our efforts, however, there is no assurance that we will be able to prevent significant credit quality deterioration in our retail loan portfolio.
In addition, we are exposed to changes in regulations and policies on retail lending by the Korean government, which may adopt measures to restrict retail lending or encourage financial institutions to provide financial support to certain types of retail borrowers. From the second half of 2016 to 2018, the Korean government introduced various measures to tighten regulations on mortgage lending and housing subscription in response to the rapid growth in consumer debt and concerns over speculative investments in real estate in certain areas. A decrease in housing prices as a result of the implementation of such measures, together with the high level of consumer debt and rising interest rate levels, could result in declines in consumer spending and reduced economic growth, which may lead to increases in delinquency levels of our retail loan portfolio.
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In light of adverse conditions in the Korean economy affecting consumers, in March 2009, the Financial Services Commission requested Korean banks, including us, to establish a “pre-workout program,” including a credit counseling and recovery service, for retail borrowers with outstanding short-term debt defaults. Under the pre-workout program, which has been in operation since April 2009, maturity extensions and/or interest reductions are provided for retail borrowers with total loans of ￦1.5 billion or less (consisting of no more than ￦500 million of unsecured loans and ￦1 billion of secured loans) who are in arrears on their payments for more than 30 days but less than 90 days, and who either have an income in excess of the minimum cost of living or are deemed by the Credit Counseling and Recovery Service, a public service organization that provides debt adjustment services to low-income families in Korea, to have the ability to repay their loans. In addition, in March 2015, in response to increasing levels of consumer debt and amid concerns over the debt-servicing capacity of retail borrowers if interest rates were to rise, the Korean government launched, and requested Korean banks to participate in, a mortgage loan refinancing program aimed at reducing the payment burden on and improving the asset quality of outstanding mortgage loans. Under such refinancing program, over 340,000 qualified retail borrowers converted their outstanding non-amortizing floating-rate mortgage loans from Korean commercial banks (including us) into amortizing fixed-rate mortgage loans with lower interest rates, amounting to an aggregate principal amount of ￦34 trillion for all commercial banks in 2015. Our participation in such refinancing program may lead to a decrease in our interest income on our outstanding mortgage loans, as well as in our overall net interest margin. Moreover, our participation in such initiatives led by the Korean government to provide financial support to retail borrowers may lead us to offer credit terms for such borrowers that we would not generally offer, which may have an adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.
Our credit card operations may generate losses in the future, which could hurt our financial condition and results of operations.
With respect to our credit card portfolio, our delinquency ratio (which represents the ratio of amounts that are overdue by 30 days or more to total outstanding balances) was 1.21% as of December 31, 2016 and increased to 1.29% as of December 31, 2017 and 1.31% as of December 31, 2018. In line with industry practice, we have restructured a portion of delinquent credit card account balances (defined as balances overdue by 30 days or more) as loans. As of December 31, 2018, these restructured loans outstanding amounted to ￦97 billion. Because these loans are not treated as being delinquent at the time of conversion or for a period of time thereafter, our delinquency ratios may not fully reflect all delinquent amounts relating to our outstanding loans. Including all restructured loans, outstanding balances overdue by 30 days or more accounted for 1.9% of our credit card receivables (including credit card loans) as of December 31, 2018. Delinquencies may further increase in 2019 and in the future as a result of, among other things, adverse economic conditions in Korea, additional government regulations or the inability of Korean consumers to manage increased household debt.
Despite our continuing efforts to sustain and improve our credit card asset quality and performance, we may experience increased delinquencies or deterioration of the asset quality of our credit card portfolio, which would require us to increase our loan loss provisions and charge-offs and adversely affect our overall financial condition and results of operations.
Risks relating to our small- and medium-sizedenterprise loan portfolio
We have significant exposure to small- andmedium-sized enterprises, and any financial difficulties experienced by these customers may result in a deterioration of our asset quality and have an adverse impact on us.
One of our core businesses is lending to small- andmedium-sized enterprises (as defined under “Item 4.B. Business Overview—Corporate Banking—Small- andMedium-sized Enterprise Banking”). Our loans to small- and medium-sized enterprises increased from ￦78,665 billion as of December 31, 2015 to ￦106,015 billion as of December 31, 2018. During that period, non-performing loans (defined as those loans that are past due by 90 days or more) to small- and medium-sized enterprises decreased from ￦309 billion as of December 31, 2015
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to ￦267 billion as of December 31, 2018, and the non-performing loan ratio for such loans decreased from 0.4% as of December 31, 2015 to 0.3% as of December 31, 2018. However, our non-performing loans and non-performing loan ratio may increase in 2019. According to data compiled by the Financial Supervisory Service, the delinquency ratio for Won-currency loans by Korean commercial banks to small- and medium-sizedenterprises was 0.5% as of December 31, 2018. The delinquency ratio for Won-currency loans to small- and medium-sizedenterprise is calculated as the ratio of (1) the outstanding balance of such loans in respect of which either principal or interest payments are overdue by one month or more to (2) the aggregate outstanding balance of such loans. Our delinquency ratio for such Won currency loans decreased from 0.5% as of December 31, 2015 to 0.3% as of December 31, 2018. However, our delinquency ratio for such Won currency loans may increase in 2019.
In light of the deteriorating financial condition and liquidity position of small- and medium-sized enterprises in Korea since the global financial crisis commencing in the second half of 2008, the Korean government introduced policies and initiatives intended to encourage Korean banks to provide financial support to small- and medium-sized enterprise borrowers. For example, the Korean government requested Korean banks, including us, to establish a “fast track” program to provide liquidity assistance to small- and medium-sized enterprises on an expedited basis. Under the “fast track” program we established, we provide liquidity assistance to qualified small- and medium-sized enterprise borrowers applying for such assistance, in the form of new loans or maturity extensions or interest rate adjustments with respect to existing loans, after expedited credit review and approval by us. The overall prospects for the Korean economy in 2019 and beyond remain uncertain, and the Korean government may extend or renew existing or past policies and initiatives or introduce new policies or initiatives to encourage Korean banks to provide financial support to small- and medium-sizedenterprises. Our participation in such government-led initiatives may lead us to extend credit to small- and medium-sizedenterprise borrowers that we would not otherwise extend, or offer terms for such credit that we would not otherwise offer, in the absence of such initiatives. Furthermore, there is no guarantee that the financial condition and liquidity position of our small- and medium-sized enterprise borrowers benefiting from such initiatives will improve sufficiently for them to service their debt on a timely basis, or at all. Accordingly, increases in our exposure to small- and medium-sized enterprise borrowers resulting from such government-ledinitiatives may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
A substantial part of our small and medium sized enterprise lending comprises loans to “small office/home office” customers, or SOHOs. SOHOs, which we currently define to include sole proprietorships and individual business interests, are usually dependent on a limited number of suppliers or customers. SOHOs tend to be affected to a greater extent than larger corporate borrowers by fluctuations in the Korean economy. In addition, SOHOs often maintain less sophisticated financial records than other corporate borrowers. Although we continue to make efforts to improve our internally developed credit rating systems to rate potential borrowers, particularly with respect to SOHOs, and intend to manage our exposure to these borrowers closely in order to prevent any deterioration in the asset quality of our loans to this segment, we may not be able to do so as intended.
In addition, many small- and medium-sized enterprises have close business relationships with the largest Korean commercial conglomerates, known as “chaebols”, primarily as suppliers. Any difficulties encountered by those chaebols would likely hurt the liquidity and financial condition of related small- and medium-sized enterprises, including those to which we have exposure, also resulting in an impairment of their ability to repay loans.
In recent years, we have taken measures which sought to stem rising delinquencies in our loans to small- and medium-sized enterprises, including through strengthening the review of loan applications and closer monitoring of thepost-loan performance of small- and medium-sized enterprise borrowers in industry sectors that are relatively more sensitive to downturns in the economy and have shown higher delinquency ratios, such as shipping, construction, lodging, retail and wholesale, restaurants and real estate. Despite such efforts, however, there is no assurance that delinquency levels for our loans to small- and medium-sized enterprises will not rise in the future. In particular, financial difficulties experienced by small- andmedium-sized enterprises as a result of,
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among other things, adverse economic conditions in Korea and globally, as well as aggressive marketing and competition among banks to lend to this segment, may lead to a deterioration in the asset quality of our loans to this segment in the future. Any such deterioration would result in increased charge-offs and higher provisioning and reduced interest and fee income from this segment, which would have an adverse impact on our financial condition and results of operations.
We have exposure to Korean construction, shipbuilding and shipping companies, and financial difficulties of these companies may have an adverse impact on us.
As of December 31, 2018, we had loans outstanding to construction, shipbuilding and shipping companies (many of which are small- and medium-sized enterprises) in the amount of ￦3,269 billion, ￦520 billion and ￦250 billion, or 1.02%, 0.16% and 0.08% of our total loans, respectively. We also have other exposures to Korean construction, shipbuilding and shipping companies, including in the form of guarantees extended on behalf of such companies (which included confirmed guarantees of ￦280 billion for construction companies, ￦569 billion for shipbuilding companies and ￦14 billion for shipping companies as of December 31, 2018) and debt and equity securities of such companies held by us. In the case of construction companies, such exposures include guarantees provided to us by general contractors with respect to financing extended by us for residential and commercial real estate development projects. In the case of shipbuilding companies, such exposures include refund guarantees extended by us on behalf of shipbuilding companies to cover their obligation to return a portion of the ship order contract amount to customers in the event of performance delays or defaults under shipbuilding contracts.
Although the construction industry in Korea has shown signs of recovery since 2015, excessive investment in residential property development projects, the recent strengthening of mortgage lending regulations by the Korean government, stagnation of real property prices and reduced demand for residential property in areas outside of Seoul are expected to continue to negatively impact the construction industry. The shipbuilding industry in Korea has experienced a severe downturn in recent years reflecting a significant decrease in ship orders, primarily due to oversupply. Although ship orders have started to increase again, the shipbuilding industry has yet to recover fully. In the case of shipping companies in Korea, reduced shipping rates and high chartering costs, together with the slowdown in global trade, have contributed to the deterioration of their financial condition, requiring some of them to file for bankruptcy or pursue voluntary restructuring of their debt.
In response to the deteriorating financial condition and liquidity position of borrowers in the construction, shipbuilding and shipping industries, which were disproportionately impacted by adverse economic developments in Korea and globally, the Korean government implemented a program in 2009 to promote expedited restructuring of such borrowers by their Korean creditor financial institutions, under the supervision of major commercial banks. In accordance with such program, 24 construction companies and five shipbuilding companies became subject to workout in 2009, following review by their creditor financial institutions (including us) and the Korean government. Each year since 2009, the Financial Services Commission and the Financial Supervisory Service have announced the results of subsequent credit risk evaluations conducted by creditor financial institutions (including us) of companies in Korea with outstanding credit exposures of ￦50 billion or more, pursuant to which a number of companies were selected by such financial institutions for restructuring in the form of workout, liquidation or court receivership. Most recently, in 2018, two companies with outstanding credit exposures of ￦50 billion or more (one of which was a construction company and the other a shipbuilding company) was selected by such financial institutions for restructuring. However, there is no assurance that these measures will be successful in stabilizing the Korean construction, shipbuilding and shipping industries.
The allowances that we have established against our credit exposures to Korean construction, shipbuilding and shipping companies may not be sufficient to cover all future losses arising from these and other exposures. If the credit quality of our exposures to such companies declines further, we may incur substantial additional provisions (including in connection with restructurings of such companies) and charge-offs, which could adversely impact our results of operations and financial condition. See “—Risks relating to our large corporate
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loan portfolio—We have exposure to companies that are currently or may in the future be put in restructuring, and we may suffer losses as a result of additional loan loss provisions required and/or the adoption of restructuring plans with which we do not agree.” Furthermore, although a portion of our credit exposures to construction, shipbuilding and shipping companies are secured by collateral, such collateral may not be sufficient to cover uncollectible amounts in respect of such credit exposures. See “—Other risks relating to our business—A decline in the value of the collateral securing our loans and our inability to realize full collateral value may adversely affect our credit portfolio.”
Risks relating to our financial holding company structure and strategy
We may not succeed in implementing our strategy to take advantage of, or fail to realize the anticipated benefits of, our financial holding company structure.
One of our principal strategies is to take advantage of our financial holding company structure to become a comprehensive financial services provider capable of offering a full range of products and services to our large existing base of retail and corporate banking customers. The continued implementation of these plans may require additional investments of capital, infrastructure, human resources and management attention. This strategy entails certain risks, including the possibility that we may face significant competition from other financial holding companies and more specialized financial institutions in particular segments. If our strategy does not succeed, we may incur losses on our investments and our results of operations and financial condition may suffer.
Furthermore, our success under a financial holding company structure depends on our ability to realize the anticipated synergies, growth opportunities and cost savings from coordinating the businesses of our various subsidiaries. Although we have been integrating certain aspects of our subsidiaries’ operations into our financial holding company structure, our subsidiaries will generally continue to operate as independent entities with separate management and staff and our ability to direct our subsidiaries’ day-to-day operations may be limited.
In addition, one of the intended benefits of our financial holding company structure is that it enhances our ability to engage in mergers and acquisitions which we decide to pursue as part of our strategy. For example:
In March 2014, we acquired 52.02% of the outstanding shares of KB Capital Co., Ltd. (formerly named Woori Financial Co., Ltd.), a publicly listed Korean consumer finance company, from Woori Finance Holdings Co., Ltd. for ￦280 billion. We conducted a tender offer in May 2017, through which we acquired 5,949,300 shares of KB Capital at ￦27,500 per share, increasing our shareholding in KB Capital to 79.70%. We subsequently acquired the remaining outstanding shares of KB Capital in exchange for 2,269,057 shares of common stock of our company through a comprehensive stock swap effected in July 2017, as a result of which KB Capital became a wholly-owned subsidiary.
In June 2015, we acquired 19.47% of the outstanding shares of KB Insurance Co., Ltd. (formerly named LIG Insurance Co., Ltd.), a publicly listed Korean non-life insurance company, from a group of individual shareholders for ￦651 billion. In November 2015, we increased our shareholding in KB Insurance to 33.29% by acquiring its treasury shares for ￦231 billion, and in December 2016, we further increased our shareholding in KB Insurance to 39.81% by purchasing new shares of KB Insurance for ￦171 billion in a rights offering. Through a tender offer conducted in May 2017, we acquired 36,237,649 shares of KB Insurance at ￦33,000 per share, increasing our shareholding to 94.30%. We subsequently effected a comprehensive stock swap in July 2017 to acquire the remaining outstanding shares of KB Insurance in exchange for 2,170,943 shares of common stock of our company, as a result of which KB Insurance became a wholly-owned subsidiary.
In May 2016, we acquired 22.56% of the outstanding shares of Hyundai Securities Co., Ltd., a publicly listed Korean securities firm, from Hyundai Merchant Marine Co., Ltd. and other shareholders for ￦1,242 billion, and further increased our shareholding in Hyundai Securities to 29.62% in June 2016
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by acquiring treasury shares of Hyundai Securities for ￦107 billion. In October 2016, we effected a comprehensive stock swap of the outstanding shares of Hyundai Securities for 31,759,844 newly issued shares of common stock of our company, as a result of which Hyundai Securities became a wholly-owned subsidiary. Following such transaction, we merged an existing subsidiary, KB Investment & Securities, with and into Hyundai Securities in December 2016 and changed the name of the surviving entity to KB Securities Co., Ltd.
See “Item 5.A. Operating Results—Overview—Acquisitions.”
We may continue to increase our equity interest in our subsidiaries or investees and may also consider acquiring or merging with other financial institutions to achieve more balanced growth and further diversify our revenue base. For example, in July 2018, we acquired a 90% interest in Tomato Specialized Bank of Cambodia (which was subsequently renamed KB Daehan Specialized Bank) through our subsidiary, KB Kookmin Card, for US$11 million, and a 22% interest in Bank Bukopin of Indonesia through our subsidiary, Kookmin Bank, for ￦116 billion, as part of our efforts to expand our businesses abroad. The integration of our new subsidiaries’ or investees’ separate businesses and operations, as well as those of any companies we may acquire or merge with in the future, under our financial holding company structure could require a significant amount of time, financial resources and management attention. Moreover, that process could disrupt our operations (including our risk management operations) or information technology systems, reduce employee morale, produce unintended inconsistencies in our standards, controls, procedures or policies, and affect our relationships with customers and our ability to retain key personnel. The realization of the anticipated benefits of our financial holding company structure and any mergers or acquisitions we decide to pursue may be blocked, delayed or reduced as a result of many factors, some of which may be outside our control. These factors include:
difficulties in integrating the diverse activities and operations of our subsidiaries or investees or any companies we may merge with or acquire, including risk management operations and information technology systems, personnel, policies and procedures;
difficulties in reorganizing or reducing overlapping personnel, branches, networks and administrative functions;
restrictions under the Financial Holding Company Act and other regulations on transactions between a financial holding company and, or among, its subsidiaries;
unforeseen contingent risks, including lack of required capital resources, increased tax liabilities or restrictions in our overseas operations, relating to our financial holding company structure;
unexpected business disruptions;
failure to attract, develop and retain personnel with necessary expertise;
loss of customers; and
labor unrest.
Accordingly, we may not be able to realize the anticipated benefits of our financial holding company structure, and our business, results of operations and financial condition may suffer as a result.
We depend on limited forms of funding to fund our operations at the holding company level.
We are a financial holding company with no significant assets other than the shares of our subsidiaries. Our primary sources of funding and liquidity are dividends from our subsidiaries, direct borrowings and issuances of equity or debt securities at the holding company level. In addition, as a financial holding company, we are required to meet certain minimum financial ratios under Korean law, including with respect to liquidity, leverage and capital adequacy. Our ability to meet our obligations to our direct creditors and employees and our other liquidity needs and regulatory requirements at the holding company level depends on timely and adequate distributions from our subsidiaries and our ability to sell our securities or obtain credit from our lenders.
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The ability of our subsidiaries to pay dividends to us depends on their financial condition and operating results. In the future, our subsidiaries may enter into agreements, such as credit agreements with lenders or indentures relating to high-yield or subordinated debt instruments, that impose restrictions on their ability to make distributions to us, and the terms of future obligations and the operation of Korean law could prevent our subsidiaries from making sufficient distributions to us to allow us to make payments on our outstanding obligations. See “—As a financial holding company, we depend on receiving dividends from our subsidiaries to pay dividends on our common stock.” Any delay in receipt of or shortfall in payments to us from our subsidiaries could result in our inability to meet our liquidity needs and regulatory requirements, including minimum liquidity and capital adequacy ratios, and may disrupt our operations at the holding company level.
In addition, creditors of our subsidiaries will generally have claims that are prior to any claims of our creditors with respect to their assets. Furthermore, our inability to sell our securities or obtain funds from our lenders on favorable terms, or at all, could also result in our inability to meet our liquidity needs and regulatory requirements and may disrupt our operations at the holding company level.
As a financial holding company, we depend on receiving dividends from our subsidiaries to pay dividends on our common stock.
Since our principal assets at the holding company level are the shares of our subsidiaries, our ability to pay dividends on our common stock largely depends on dividend payments from those subsidiaries. Those dividend payments are subject to the Korean Commercial Code, the Bank Act and regulatory limitations, generally based on capital levels and retained earnings, imposed by the various regulatory agencies with authority over those entities. For example:
under the Korean Commercial Code, dividends may only be paid out of distributable income, an amount which is calculated by subtracting the aggregate amount of a company’s paid-in capital and certain mandatory legal reserves as well as certain unrealized profits from its net assets, in each case as of the end of the prior fiscal period;
under the Bank Act, a bank also must credit at least 10% of its net profit to a legal reserve each time it pays dividends on distributable income until that reserve equals the amount of its total paid-in capital; and
under the Bank Act and the requirements of the Financial Services Commission, if a bank fails to meet its required capital adequacy ratio or otherwise becomes subject to management improvement measures imposed by the Financial Services Commission, then the Financial Services Commission may restrict the declaration and payment of dividends by that bank.
Our subsidiaries may not continue to meet the applicable legal and regulatory requirements for the payment of dividends in the future. If they fail to do so, they may stop paying or reduce the amount of the dividends they pay to us, which would have an adverse effect on our ability to pay dividends on our common stock.
Although increasing our fee income is an important part of our strategy, we may not be able to do so.
We have historically relied on interest income as our primary revenue source. While we have developed new sources of fee income as part of our business strategy, our ability to increase our fee income and thereby reduce our dependence on interest income will be affected by the extent to which our customers generally accept the concept of fee-basedservices. Historically, customers in Korea have generally been reluctant to pay fees in return for value-added financial services, and their continued reluctance to do so will adversely affect the implementation of our strategy to increase our fee income. Furthermore, the fees that we charge to customers are subject to regulation by Korean financial regulatory authorities, which may seek to implement regulations or measures that may also have an adverse impact on our ability to achieve this aspect of our strategy.
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We may suffer customer attrition or our net interest margin may decrease as a result of our competition strategy.
We have been pursuing, and intend to continue to pursue, a strategy of maintaining or enhancing our margins where possible and avoid, to the extent possible, entering into price competition. In order to execute this strategy, we will need to maintain relatively low interest rates on our deposit products while charging relatively higher rates on loans. If other banks and financial institutions adopt a strategy of expanding market share through interest rate competition, we may suffer customer attrition due to rate sensitivity. In addition, we may in the future decide to compete to a greater extent based on interest rates, which could lead to a decrease in our net interest margins. Any future decline in our customer base or our net interest margins as a result of our future competition strategy could have an adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.
Risks relating to competition
Competition in the Korean financial industry is intense, and we may lose market share and experience declining margins as a result.
Competition in the Korean financial industry has been and is likely to remain intense. Some of the financial institutions that we compete with have longer operating histories as financial holding companies, greater financial resources or more specialized capabilities than us and our subsidiaries. In the retail and small- and medium-sized enterprise lending business, which has been our traditional core business, competition has increased significantly and is expected to increase further. Most Korean banks have been focusing on retail customers and small- and medium-sized enterprises in recent years, although they have begun to generally increase their exposure to large corporate borrowers. In addition, the profitability of our retail lending and credit card operations may decline as a result of growing market saturation in the retail lending and credit card segments, increased interest rate competition, pressure to lower the fee rates applicable to our credit cards (particularly merchant fee rates) and higher marketing expenses. Intense and increasing competition has made and continues to make it more difficult for us to secure retail, credit card and small- and medium-sized customers with the credit quality and on credit terms necessary to achieve our business objectives in a commercially acceptable manner.
Furthermore, the introduction of Internet-only banks in Korea is expected to increase competition in the Korean banking industry. Internet-only banks operate without branches and conduct most of their operations through electronic means, which enables them to minimize costs and offer customers higher interest rates on deposits or lower lending rates. In April 2017, K Bank, the first Internet-only bank in Korea, commenced operations. Kakao Bank, another Internet-only bank, in which we hold a 10% equity interest, commenced operations in July 2017.
In the Korean insurance industry, there has been downward pressure in recent years on margins of insurance products as some of our competitors have sought to obtain or maintain market share by reducing margins and increasing marketing efforts. As the Korean non-life insurance and life insurance sectors continue to mature, they may experience a slowdown in growth as well as a stagnation in market penetration. Due to these and other factors, we believe that competition in the Korean insurance industry will likely remain intense in the future. Sustained or increased competition may lead to decreases in the market share and profitability of our non-life insurance and life insurance businesses.
In addition, we believe that regulatory reforms and the general modernization of business practices in Korea will lead to increased competition among financial institutions in Korea. In the second half of 2015, the Korean government implemented measures to facilitate bank account portability of retail customers by requiring commercial banks to establish systems that allow retail customers to easily switch their bank accounts at one commercial bank to another and automatically transfer the automatic payment settings of their former accounts to the new ones. Such measures are expected to further intensify competition among financial institutions in Korea.
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Moreover, in March 2016, the Financial Services Commission introduced an individual savings account scheme in Korea, which enables individuals to efficiently manage a wide range of retail investment vehicles, including cash deposits, funds and securities investment products, from a single integrated account with one financial institution and offers tax benefits on investment returns. Since the scheme backed by the Korean government allows only one individual savings account per person, financial institutions have been competing to retain existing customers and attract new customers since the launch of the individual savings account scheme. Over 30 financial institutions, including banks, securities companies and insurance companies, have registered with the Financial Services Commission to sell their individual savings account products and competition among these financial institutions is expected to remain intense.
Moreover, a number of significant mergers and acquisitions in the financial industry have taken place in Korea in recent years, including Hana Financial Group’s acquisition of a controlling interest in Korea Exchange Bank in 2012 and the subsequent merger of Hana Bank into Korea Exchange Bank in 2015. In addition, as part of the Korean government’s plans to privatize Woori Finance Holdings Co., Ltd. (the former financial holding company of Woori Bank), certain subsidiaries of Woori Finance Holdings were sold to other financial institutions and Woori Finance Holdings itself was merged into Woori Bank in 2014, which established a new financial holding company, Woori Financial Group Inc., in January 2019. In the insurance sector, China’s Anbang Insurance Group acquired controlling interests in Tong Yang Life Insurance Co., Ltd. and Allianz Life Insurance Korea Co., Ltd. in 2015 and 2016, respectively, while Mirae Asset Life Insurance Co., Ltd. acquired PCA Life Insurance Co., Ltd. in 2017. In February 2019, Shinhan Financial Group acquired a 59% interest in Orange Life Insurance, Ltd. (formerly known as ING Life Insurance Korea, Ltd.). In the securities sector, in 2016, Mirae Asset Securities Co., Ltd. acquired a 43% interest in KDB Daewoo Securities Co., Ltd., which subsequently merged with and into Mirae Asset Securities to create Mirae Asset Daewoo Securities Co., Ltd., the largest securities company in Korea in terms of capital.
We expect that consolidation in the Korean financial industry will continue. The financial institutions resulting from such consolidation may, by virtue of their increased size and business scope, provide significantly greater competition for us. We also believe that foreign financial institutions, many of which have greater experience and resources than we do, may seek to compete with us in providing financial products and services either by themselves or in partnership with existing Korean financial institutions. Increased competition and continuing consolidation may lead to decreased margins, resulting in a material adverse impact on our future profitability. Accordingly, our results of operations and financial condition may suffer as a result of increasing competition in the Korean financial industry.
Risks relating to our large corporate loan portfolio
We have exposure to chaebols, and, as a result, financial difficulties of chaebols may have an adverse impact on us.
Of our 20 largest corporate exposures (including loans, debt and equity securities and guarantees and acceptances) as of December 31, 2018, 12 were to companies that were members of the 31 largest highly-indebted business groups among chaebols in Korea designated as such by the Financial Supervisory Service based on their outstanding exposures. As of that date, the total amount of our exposures to 31 of such largest highly-indebted business groups among chaebols was ￦26,297 billion, or 5.9% of our total exposures. If the credit quality of our exposures to chaebols declines as a result of financial difficulties they experience or for other reasons, we could require substantial additional loan loss provisions, which would hurt our results of operations and financial condition. See “Item 4.B. Business Overview—Assets and Liabilities—Loan Portfolio—Exposure to Chaebols.”
We cannot assure you that the allowances we have established against these exposures will be sufficient to cover all future losses arising from these exposures. In addition, with respect to those companies that are in or in the future enter into workout or liquidation proceedings, we may not be able to make any recoveries against such companies. We may, therefore, experience future losses with respect to those loans.
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We have exposure to companies that are currently or may in the future be put in restructuring, and we may suffer losses as a result of additional loan loss provisions required and/or the adoption of restructuring plans with which we do not agree.
As of December 31, 2018, our loans and guarantees to companies that were in workout, restructuring or rehabilitation amounted to ￦463 billion or 0.1% of our total loans and guarantees, most of which was classified as impaired. As of the same date, our allowances for credit losses on these loans and guarantees amounted to ￦274 billion, or 59.2% of these loans and guarantees. These allowances may not be sufficient to cover all future losses arising from our exposure to these companies. Furthermore, we have other exposure to such companies, in the form of debt and equity securities of such companies held by us (including equity securities we acquired as a result of debt-to-equity conversions). Our exposures as of December 31, 2018 with respect to such securities of companies in workout, restructuring or rehabilitation amounted to ￦23 billion, or less than 0.02% of our total debt securities and equity securities, but may increase in the future. In addition, in the case of borrowers that are or become subject to workout or restructuring, we may be forced to restructure our credits pursuant to restructuring plans approved by other creditor financial institutions of the borrower, or to dispose of our credits to other creditors on unfavorable terms.
In particular, as of December 31, 2018, we had ￦322 billion of outstanding exposures, comprising ￦111 billion of loans, ￦6 billion of debt securities, ￦38 billion of equity securities and ￦167 billion of guarantees (mainly in the form of refund guarantees relating to shipbuilding contracts), to Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co., Ltd., or DSME, which has been pursuing a voluntary restructuring program. In April 2017, the creditors of DSME agreed on a plan to provide additional financial support to DSME in connection with its voluntary restructuring program, under which Korea Development Bank and the Export-Import Bank of Korea would provide ￦2.9 trillion of new loans to DSME, on the condition that DSME’s other creditors and bondholders agree to a ￦2.9 trillion debt-to-equity swap. The financial support plan required the Korean commercial bank creditors of DSME (including us) to swap 80% of our outstanding unsecured loans into equity of DSME and extend the maturity of the remaining loans for a period of three years. The financial support plan also requires DSME’s creditors (including us) to provide additional refund guarantees in connection with future shipbuilding contracts of DSME. The implementation of the financial support plan for DSME has required and may continue to require us to increase our loan loss provisions and recognize write-offs and impairment losses with respect to our exposures to DSME and may therefore have a material adverse impact on our results of operations and financial condition. Furthermore, there is no guarantee that the plan will be successful in ensuring the financial viability of DSME.
A large portion of our credit exposure is concentrated in a relatively small number of large corporate borrowers, which increases the risk of our corporate credit portfolio.
As of December 31, 2018, our loans and guarantees to our 20 largest borrowers totaled ￦9,984 billion and accounted for 3.0% of our total loans and guarantees. As of that date, our single largest corporate credit exposure was to the Korea Securities Finance Corporation, to which we had outstanding loans of ￦11 billion, as well as additional credit exposure of ￦1,886 billion in the form of debt securities. Any deterioration in the financial condition of the Korea Securities Finance Corporation or our other large corporate borrowers may require us to record substantial additional provisions and charge-offs and may have a material adverse impact on our results of operations and financial condition.
Risks relating to our insurance operations
Our profitability may be adversely affected if actual benefits and claims amounts on our in-force insurance policies exceed the amounts that we have reserved, or we increase the amount of reserves due to a change in our underlying assumptions.
We operate our insurance business through KB Insurance Co., Ltd., our non-life insurance subsidiary which became a consolidated subsidiary in May 2017, as well as KB Life Insurance Co., Ltd., our life insurance
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subsidiary. With respect to our insurance operations, we establish and carry, as a liability, policy reserves based on the greater of statutory reserves and actuarial estimates of how much we will need to pay for future benefits and claims on our in-force non-life insurance and life insurance policies. The profitability of our insurance operations depends significantly upon the extent to which our actual claims results are consistent with the assumptions used in setting the prices for our insurance products and establishing the liabilities in our financial statements for our obligations for future insurance policy benefits and claims. We establish the liabilities for obligations for future insurance policy benefits and claims based on the expected payout of benefits, calculated through the use of assumptions for investment returns, mortality, morbidity, expenses and persistency, as well as certain macroeconomic factors such as inflation. We also use methods to analyze loss trends with respect to certain risk assumptions relating to natural disasters. These assumptions are based on our previous experience and published data from third party industry sources, as well as judgments made by our management. These assumptions and estimates may deviate from our actual experience due to various factors that are beyond our control, including as a result of unexpected changes in the scope of coverage by the Korean national health insurance program and advancements in health care that result in increased life expectancy and early detection of diseases, as well as re-interpretations of our insurance policy terms by Korean regulators or courts. In addition, the occurrence of unexpected catastrophic events in Korea, including pandemics or natural or man-made disasters, may result in claims that significantly exceed our expectations. As a result, we cannot determine with precision the ultimate amounts that we will pay for, or the timing of payment of, actual benefits and claims or whether the assets supporting the insurance policy liabilities will grow to the level we assume prior to payment of benefits or claims. These amounts may vary from the estimated amounts, particularly when those payments may not occur until well into the future.
We evaluate the adequacy of our insurance policy liabilities periodically based on changes in the assumptions used to determine our best estimates of claims, expenses, persistency rates and interest rates, as well as based on our actual policy benefits and claims results. To the extent that trends in actual claims results are less favorable than our underlying assumptions used in establishing these liabilities, and our total insurance policy liabilities are considered to be inadequate to meet our future contractual obligations as and when they arise, we could be required to increase our liabilities. We record increases in our insurance policy liabilities as expenses in the period in which the liabilities are established or re-evaluated. If actual benefits and claims amounts exceed the amounts that we have reserved, or we increase the amount of insurance policy liabilities due to a change in our underlying assumptions, it could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.
Our insurance subsidiaries may be required to raise additional capital or reduce their growth or business scale if their risk-based capital adequacy ratio deteriorates or the applicable capital requirements change in the future.
Pursuant to the risk-based capital adequacy requirements implemented by the Financial Services Commission, insurance companies in Korea are required to maintain a statutory ratio of available regulatory capital to risk-weighted assets of not less than 100% on a consolidated basis. Furthermore, the Financial Supervisory Service had previously recommended that insurance companies maintain a risk-based capital adequacy ratio of not less than 150%, and its former administrative guidelines had required insurance companies failing to maintain such recommended 150% ratio to submit a capital increase plan. Although the Financial Supervisory Service has since withdrawn such administrative guidelines, we believe that a risk-based capital adequacy ratio of not less than 150% is still considered standard in the Korean insurance industry. Risk-based capital adequacy requirements require insurance companies to hold adequate capital to cover their exposures to interest rate risk, market risk, credit risk and operational risk as well as insurance risk by reflecting such risks in their calculation of risk-weighted assets. As of December 31, 2018, KB Insurance had a risk-based capital adequacy ratio of 187.09%, while KB Life Insurance had a risk-based capital adequacy ratio of 203.74%.
The Financial Supervisory Service has announced that it plans to introduce a new regulatory solvency regime for insurance companies by 2022 based on the International Capital Standard developed by the
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International Association of Insurance Supervisors, which would be similar in substance to the Solvency II Directive of the European Union. The Solvency II Directive, which has been in effect in the European Union since January 1, 2016, is a comprehensive program of regulatory requirements for insurance companies, covering authorization, corporate governance, supervisory reporting, public disclosure and risk assessment and management, as well as solvency. Under the Financial Supervisory Service’s planned new solvency regime in Korea, among other things, insurance contract liabilities are expected to be measured based on market value, rather than book value, which would require a number of insurance companies in Korea with a large portfolio of high guaranteed rate of return products to obtain additional capital to meet their capital adequacy requirements. The Financial Supervisory Service has also announced its plans to implement a series of incremental changes to the calculation methodology for the risk-based capital adequacy ratio of insurance companies, as interim measures. Such changes implemented in 2017 included increasing the maximum statutory duration of insurance liabilities recognized for purposes of such calculation, as well as reducing the coefficient applied in calculating interest rate risk and adjusting the methods used to assess the risk of guaranteed benefits of variable insurance policies. See “Item 4.B. Business Overview—Supervision and Regulation—Principal Regulations Applicable to Insurance Companies—Capital Adequacy.”
The details of the new solvency regime in Korea have not yet been finalized and may be further amended in the future. Accordingly, there is no guarantee that our insurance subsidiaries will not be required to raise additional capital to sustain their risk-based capital adequacy ratio above the required level in connection with the future implementation of the new solvency regime. Any material deterioration in the risk-based capital adequacy ratio of our insurance subsidiaries, as a result of the implementation of the new solvency regime or otherwise, could change their customers’ or business counterparties’ perception of their financial health, which in turn could adversely affect their business and profitability. Furthermore, if they grow rapidly or if their asset quality deteriorates in the future, our insurance subsidiaries may be required to raise additional capital, which we may need to provide in whole or in part, to meet their capital adequacy requirements. If we or our insurance subsidiaries are not able to raise any required additional capital, we may be forced to reduce the growth or scale of our insurance operations.
Changes in accounting standards for insurance contracts could adversely impact our reported results of operations and financial condition.
In response to a lack of comparability in the global insurance industry stemming from variations in accounting policies being applied, the IASB issued IFRS 17 (previously referred to as IFRS 4 Phase II), a new IFRS accounting standard for insurance contracts, in May 2017 with an effective date of January 1, 2021, which was subsequently deferred to January 1, 2022. Compliance with such revised accounting standards could significantly affect the way in which we and other operators of insurance businesses in Korea account for insurance policies, annuity contracts and financial instruments and how our financial statements are presented.
IFRS 17 will introduce a fundamentally different approach to current accounting policies in terms of both liability measurement and profit recognition. Under IFRS 17, insurance contract liabilities will no longer be calculated based on historical or past assumptions but based on the present value of future insurance cash flows using a discount rate reflecting current interest rates and the characteristics of the insurance contracts, with a risk adjustment and deferral of up-front profits. Among other effects, this may result in an increase in the level of the liabilities of our insurance subsidiaries, which would lead to a decrease in the balance of their available capital, which in turn may lower their risk-based capital adequacy ratio, depending on the solvency regime applicable at the time. In addition, under IFRS 17, certain parts of premium income from insurance contracts will be allocated over the coverage period in proportion to the value of expected coverage and other services that the insurer will provide over such period, rather than recognized at the time of receipt of premium payments, and the investment component of an insurance contract (which refers to amounts to be repaid to policyholders even if the insured event does not occur) will be disaggregated and excluded from premium income. Such changes to revenue recognition methodology will likely have the effect of, among other things, reducing the reported revenue from our insurance operations.
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Given the complexity of IFRS 17 and the significant amount of time and resources that will be required to adopt IFRS 17 accounting, we have established and are in the process of executing an implementation plan, including investments in information technology systems and processes, in order to enhance our financial analysis and impact assessment with respect to our insurance operations. We are also taking other measures to reduce the amount of our statutorily required capital under IFRS 17, including developing new products with improved capital efficiency and strengthening our asset-liability management and our monitoring of interest rate risk. Potential challenges that we may face in terms of implementation of IFRS 17 include:
interpretation of the requirements and potential operational difficulties when applying such requirements;
data collection, storage and analysis;
integration of existing systems and processes with new actuarial systems;
increased finance, actuarial and risk management coordination;
implementation of new business strategies in preparation for IFRS 17, including adjusting the duration of interest earning assets and interest bearing liabilities and our asset-liability management policies within our insurance operations;
impact of the transition to a new Korean regulatory solvency regime, which is expected to be implemented around the time of the effective date of IFRS 17; and
changes to other aspects of our insurance business, such as product design, remuneration policies and business planning.
Accordingly, the implementation of IFRS 17, as well as any other new or revised insurance accounting standards we are required to adopt in the future, could result in significant costs and may have a material adverse effect on our business and our reported results of operations and financial condition.
Other risks relating to our business
Unfavorable changes in the global financial markets could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.
The overall prospects for the Korean and global economy remain uncertain. In recent years, the global financial markets have experienced significant volatility as a result of, among other things:
a deterioration in economic and trade relations between the United States and its major trading partners, including China;
uncertainty regarding the timing and method of the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union, or Brexit;
financial and social difficulties affecting many countries worldwide, in particular in Latin America and Europe;
the slowdown of economic growth in China and other major emerging market economies;
interest rate fluctuations as well as the possibility of further increases in policy rates by the U.S. Federal Reserve and other central banks; and
political and social instability in various countries in the Middle East, including Syria, Iraq and Yemen.
In addition, the global economy faces a number of uncertainties in 2019, including due to the possibility of higher inflation pressures in the United States and elsewhere, which may lead to corrections in the global financial markets, and credit risks arising from yield-seeking investors increasing their exposure to lower-rated
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corporate and sovereign borrowers, as well as escalations in trade protectionism globally and geopolitical tensions in East Asia and the Middle East. In light of the high level of interdependence of the global economy, unfavorable changes in the global financial markets, including as a result of any of the foregoing developments, could have a material adverse effect on the Korean economy and financial markets, and in turn on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We are also exposed to adverse changes and volatility in the global and Korean financial markets as a result of our liabilities and assets denominated in foreign currencies and our holdings of trading and investment securities, including structured products. The value of the Won relative to major foreign currencies in general and the U.S. dollar in particular has fluctuated widely in recent years. A depreciation of the Won will increase our cost in Won of servicing our foreign currency-denominated debt, while continued exchange rate volatility may also result in foreign exchange losses for us. Furthermore, as a result of changes in global and Korean economic conditions, there has been volatility in securities prices, including the stock prices of Korean and foreign companies in which we hold an interest. Such volatility has resulted in and may lead to further trading and valuation losses on our trading and investment securities portfolio as well as impairment losses on our investments accounted for under the equity method.
Our business may be materially and adversely affected by legal claims and regulatory actions against us.
We are subject to the risk of legal claims and regulatory actions in the ordinary course of our business, which may expose us to substantial monetary damages and legal costs, injunctive relief, criminal and civil penalties, sanctions against our management and employees and regulatory restrictions on our operations, as well as significant reputational harm. See “Item 8A. Consolidated Statements and Other Financial Information—Legal Proceedings.”
We are unable to predict the outcome of the legal claims and regulatory actions in which we are involved, and the scope of the claims or actions or the total amount in dispute in such matters may increase. Furthermore, adverse final determinations, decisions or resolutions in such matters could encourage other parties to bring related claims and actions against us. Accordingly, the outcome of current and future legal claims and regulatory actions, particularly those for which it is difficult to assess the maximum potential exposure or the ultimate adverse impact with any degree of certainty, may materially and adversely impact our business, reputation, results of operations and financial condition.
Our risk management system may not be effective in mitigating risk and loss.
We seek to monitor and manage our risk exposure through a group-wide risk management platform, encompassing a multi-layered risk management governance structure, reporting and monitoring systems, early warning systems, credit risk management systems for our banking operations and other risk management infrastructure, using a variety of risk management strategies and techniques. See “Item 11. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.” However, such risk management strategies and techniques employed by us and the judgments that accompany their application cannot anticipate the economic and financial outcome in all market environments, and many of our risk management strategies and techniques have a basis in historic market behavior that may limit the effectiveness of such strategies and techniques in times of significant market stress or other unforeseen circumstances. Furthermore, our risk management strategies may not be effective in a difficult or less liquid market environment, as other market participants may be attempting to use the same or similar strategies as us to deal with such market conditions. In such circumstances, it may be difficult for us to reduce our risk positions due to the activity of such other market participants.
We are generally subject to Korean corporate governance and disclosure standards, which may differ from those in other countries.
Companies in Korea, including us, are subject to corporate governance standards applicable to Korean public companies which may differ in some respects from standards applicable in other countries, including the
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United States. As a reporting company registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and listed on the New York Stock Exchange, we are subject to certain corporate governance standards as mandated by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. However, foreign private issuers, including us, are exempt from certain corporate governance requirements under theSarbanes-Oxley Act or under the rules of the New York Stock Exchange. There may also be less publicly available information about Korean companies, such as us, than is regularly made available by public or non-public companies in other countries. Such differences in corporate governance standards and less public information could result in corporate governance practices or disclosures that are perceived as less than satisfactory by investors in certain countries.
A decline in the value of the collateral securing our loans and our inability to realize full collateral value may adversely affect our credit portfolio.
A substantial portion of our loans is secured by real estate, the values of which have fluctuated significantly in recent years. Although it is our general policy to lend up to 40% to 70% of the appraised value of collateral (except in areas of high speculation designated by the government where we generally limit our lending to between 40% to 60% of the appraised value of collateral) and to periodically re-appraise our collateral, a downturn in the real estate market in Korea may result in declines in the value of the collateral securing our mortgage and home equity loans. If collateral values decline in the future, they may not be sufficient to cover uncollectible amounts in respect of our secured loans. Any future declines in the value of the real estate or other collateral securing our loans, or our inability to obtain additional collateral in the event of such declines, could result in a deterioration in our asset quality and may require us to take additional loan loss provisions.
In Korea, foreclosure on collateral generally requires a written petition to a court. An application, when made, may be subject to delays and administrative requirements that may result in a decrease in the value realized with respect to such collateral. We cannot guarantee that we will be able to realize the full value on our collateral as a result of, among other factors, delays in foreclosure proceedings and defects in the perfection of our security interest in collateral. Our failure to recover the expected value of collateral could expose us to losses.
The secondary market for corporate bonds in Korea is not fully developed, and, as a result, we may not be able to realize the full book value of debt securities we hold at the time of any sale of such securities.
As of December 31, 2018, we held debt securities issued by Korean companies and financial institutions (other than those issued by the Bank of Korea, Korea Housing Finance Corporation, Korea Development Bank, Industrial Bank of Korea, the Export-Import Bank of Korea, Korea Deposit Insurance Corporation and the Korea Land & Housing Corporation, which are government-owned or -controlled enterprises or financial institutions) with a total carrying amount of ￦37,656 billion in our trading and investment securities portfolio. The market value of these securities could decline significantly due to various factors, including future increases in interest rates or a deterioration in the financial and economic condition of any particular issuer or of Korea in general. Any of these factors individually or a combination of these factors would require us to write down the fair value of these debt securities, resulting in impairment losses. Because the secondary market for corporate bonds in Korea is not fully developed, the market value of many of these securities as reflected on our statements of financial position is determined by references to suggested prices posted by Korean rating agencies or the Korea Financial Investment Association. These valuations, however, may differ significantly from the actual value that we could realize in the event we elect to sell these securities. As a result, we may not be able to realize the full book value at the time of any such sale of these securities and thus may incur losses.
We may be required to make transfers from our general banking operations to cover shortfalls in our guaranteed trust accounts, which could have an adverse effect on our results of operations.
We manage a number of money trust accounts through Kookmin Bank, our banking subsidiary. Under Korean law, trust account assets of a bank are required to be segregated from the assets of that bank’s general banking operations. Those assets are not available to satisfy the claims of a bank’s depositors or other creditors
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of its general banking operations. For some of the trust accounts we manage, we have guaranteed either the principal amount of the investor’s investment or the principal and a fixed rate of interest.
If, at any time, the income from our guaranteed trust accounts is not sufficient to pay any guaranteed amount, we will have to cover the shortfall first from the special reserves maintained in these trust accounts, then from our fees from such trust accounts and finally from funds transferred from our general banking operations. As of December 31, 2018, we had ￦111 billion of special reserves in respect of trust accounts for which we provided guarantees of principal. There was no transfer from general banking operations to cover deficiencies in guaranteed trust accounts in 2016, 2017 and 2018. However, we may be required to make transfers from our general banking operations to cover shortfalls, if any, in our guaranteed trust accounts in the future. Such transfers may adversely impact our results of operations.
Our operations have been, and will continue to be, subject to increasing and continually evolving cyber security and other technological risks.
With the proliferation of new technologies and the increasing use of the Internet and mobile devices to conduct financial transactions, our operations as a large financial institution have been, and will continue to be, subject to an increasing risk of cyber incidents relating to these activities, the nature of which is continually evolving. Our computer systems, software and networks are subject to cyber incidents, such as disruptions, delays or other difficulties from our information technology system, computer viruses or other malicious codes, loss or destruction of data (including confidential client information), unauthorized access, account takeover attempts and cyber attacks. A significant portion of our daily operations relies on our information technology systems, including customer service, billing, the secure processing, storage and transmission of confidential and other information as well as the timely monitoring of a large number of complex transactions. Although we have made substantial and continuous investments to build systems and defenses to address cyber security and other technological risks, there is no guarantee that such measures or any other measures can provide adequate security. In addition, because methods used to cause cyber attacks change frequently or, in some cases, are not recognized until launched, we may be unable to implement effective preventive measures or proactively address these methods. Furthermore, these cyber threats may arise from human error, accidental technological failure and third parties with whom we do business. Although we maintain insurance coverage that may cover certain aspects of cyber risks, such insurance coverage may be insufficient to cover all losses. If we were to be subject to a cyber incident, it could result in the disclosure of confidential client information, damage to our reputation with our customers and in the market, customer dissatisfaction, additional costs to us, regulatory penalties, exposure to litigation and other financial losses to both us and our customers, which could have an adverse effect on our business and results of operations.
Risks relating to liquidity and capital management
A considerable increase in interest rates could decrease the value of our debt securities portfolio and raise our funding costs while reducing loan demand and the repayment ability of our borrowers, which, as a result, could adversely affect us.
Interest rates in Korea have been subject to significant fluctuations in the past. The Bank of Korea reduced its policy rate to 2.00% through a series of reductions from 2012 to 2014 to support Korea’s economy in light of the slowdown in Korea’s growth and uncertain global economic prospects. The Bank of Korea further reduced its policy rate to 1.50% in 2015 and again to an unprecedented 1.25% in June 2016 amid deflationary concerns and interest rate cuts by central banks around the world. However, the Bank of Korea increased its policy rate to 1.50% in November 2017 and 1.75% in November 2018 in light of improved growth prospects in Korea and rising interest rate levels globally. All else being equal, further increases in interest rates in the future could lead to a decline in the value of our portfolio of debt securities, which generally pay interest based on a fixed rate. A sustained increase in interest rates will also raise our funding costs, while reducing loan demand, especially among retail borrowers. Rising interest rates may therefore require us to re-balance our asset portfolio and our liabilities in order to minimize the risk of potential mismatches and maintain our profitability.
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In addition, rising interest rate levels may adversely affect the Korean economy and the financial condition of our corporate and retail borrowers, including holders of our credit cards, which in turn may lead to a deterioration in our credit portfolio. In particular, since most of our retail and corporate loans bear interest at rates that adjust periodically based on prevailing market rates, a sustained increase in interest rate levels will increase the interest costs of our retail and corporate borrowers and could adversely affect their ability to make payments on their outstanding loans.
Furthermore, in periods of increasing interest rates, the yields on the general account assets of our insurance subsidiaries may not be sufficient to fund the higher floating interest credit rates necessary to keep their interest-sensitive insurance products competitive. They may therefore have to accept a lower spread and thus lower profitability or face a decline in sales and greater attrition among their existing policyholders. In addition, in periods of increasing interest rates, the value of the debt securities and other general account assets of our insurance subsidiaries may decline, resulting in lower unrealized gains within other comprehensive income in their total equity, which in turn would lower their available capital and their risk-based capital adequacy ratio. Moreover, surrenders and withdrawals of insurance policies may increase as policyholders seek to buy products with perceived higher returns. This process may lead to a cash outflow from our insurance subsidiaries. Such cash outflows may require them to sell their investment assets at a time when the prices of those assets are lower because of the increase in market interest rates, which may result in investment losses.
Our funding is highly dependent on short-term deposits, which dependence may adversely affect our operations.
We meet a significant amount of our funding requirements through short-term funding sources, which consist primarily of customer deposits. As of December 31, 2018, approximately 95.5% of our deposits had maturities of one year or less or were payable on demand. In the past, a substantial proportion of our customer deposits have been rolled over upon maturity. We cannot guarantee, however, that depositors will continue to roll over their deposits in the future. In the event that a substantial number of our short-term deposit customers withdraw their funds or fail to roll over their deposits as higher-yielding investment opportunities emerge, our liquidity position could be adversely affected. We may also be required to seek more expensive sources of short-term and long-term funding to finance our operations. See “Item 5.B. Liquidity and Capital Resources—Financial Condition—Liquidity.”
We may be required to raise additional capital if our capital adequacy ratio deteriorates or the applicable capital requirements change in the future, but we may not be able to do so on favorable terms or at all.
Under the capital adequacy requirements of the Financial Services Commission, as of December 31, 2018, both we and Kookmin Bank, our banking subsidiary, were required to maintain a total minimum common equity Tier I capital adequacy ratio of 7.125%, Tier I capital adequacy ratio of 8.625% and combined Tier I and Tier II capital adequacy ratio of 10.625%, on a consolidated basis (including applicable additional capital buffers and requirements as described below). As of December 31, 2018, our common equity Tier I capital, Tier I capital and combined Tier I and Tier II capital adequacy ratios were 13.97%, 13.97% and 14.60%, respectively, and Kookmin Bank’s common equity Tier I capital, Tier I capital and combined Tier I and Tier II capital adequacy ratios were 14.33%, 14.33% and 15.52%, respectively, all of which exceeded the minimum levels required by the Financial Services Commission. However, our capital base and capital adequacy ratios may deteriorate in the future if our results of operations or financial condition deteriorates for any reason, including as a result of a deterioration in the asset quality of our retail loans (including credit card balances) and loans to small- and medium-sized enterprises, or if we are not able to deploy our funding into suitably low-risk assets.
The current capital adequacy requirements of the Financial Services Commission are derived from a new set of bank capital measures, referred to as Basel III, which the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision initially introduced in 2009 and began phasing in starting from 2013. Commencing in July 2013, the Financial Services Commission promulgated a series of amended regulations implementing Basel III, pursuant to which Korean
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banks and bank holding companies were required to maintain a minimum ratio of common equity Tier I capital (which principally includes equity capital, capital surplus and retained earnings) to risk-weighted assets of 3.5% and Tier I capital to risk-weighted assets of 4.5% from December 1, 2013, which minimum ratios were increased to 4.0% and 5.5%, respectively, from January 1, 2014 and increased further to 4.5% and 6.0%, respectively, from January 1, 2015. Such requirements are in addition to the pre-existing requirement for a minimum ratio of Tier I and Tier II capital (less any capital deductions) to risk-weighted assets of 8.0%, which remains unchanged. The amended regulations also require an additional capital conservation buffer of 1.875% in 2018 and 2.5% in 2019, as well as a potential counter-cyclical capital buffer of up to 2.5%, which is determined on a quarterly basis by the Financial Services Commission. Furthermore, we were designated as one of five domestic systemically important banks for 2018 by the Financial Services Commission and were subject to an additional capital requirement of 0.75% in 2018. In June 2018, we were again designated as a domestic systemically important bank for 2019, which would subject us to an additional capital requirement of 1.0% in 2019. The implementation of Basel III in Korea may have a significant effect on the capital requirements of Korean financial institutions, including us. See “Item 4.B. Business Overview—Supervision and Regulation—Principal Regulations Applicable to Financial Holding Companies—Capital Adequacy” and “—Principal Regulations Applicable to Banks—Capital Adequacy.”
We may be required to obtain additional capital in the future in order to remain in compliance with more stringent capital adequacy and other regulatory requirements. However, we may not be able to obtain additional capital on favorable terms, or at all. Our ability to obtain additional capital at any time may be constrained to the extent that banks or other financial institutions in Korea or from other countries are seeking to raise capital at the same time. To the extent that we fail to comply with applicable capital adequacy ratio or other regulatory requirements in the future, Korean regulatory authorities may impose penalties on us ranging from a warning to suspension or revocation of our banking license.
Risks relating to government regulation and policy
Our income tax expenses may increase as a result of changes to Korean corporate income tax laws.
Pursuant to an amendment to the Corporate Income Tax Law of Korea which became effective in January 2018, the corporate income tax rate applicable to the portion of the tax base of companies that exceeds ￦300 billion has been raised from 24.2% to 27.5%, inclusive of local income surtax in each case. In addition, pursuant to an amendment to the Special Tax Treatment Control Law of Korea which became effective in January 2018, large corporations with net equity in excess of ￦50 billion, including us and certain of our subsidiaries, are subject to a 20% additional levy on the unused amount if a certain portion (i.e., 65% or 15%, depending on the taxation method) of their taxable income is not used for investments or wage increases. Such changes in Korean income tax laws may result in an increase in our and our subsidiaries’ income tax expenses, which, depending on the magnitude of such increase, may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.
Strengthening of consumer protection laws applicable to financial institutions could adversely affect our operations.
As a financial service provider, we are subject to a variety of regulations in Korea that are designed to protect financial consumers. In recent years, in light of heightened public concern regarding privacy issues, the Korean government has placed greater emphasis on protection of personal information by financial institutions and has implemented a number of measures to enhance consumer protection, including considerably restricting a financial institution’s ability to transfer or provide personal information to its affiliates or holding company. Under the Personal Information Protection Act, financial institutions, as personal information managers, may not collect, store, maintain, utilize or provide resident registration numbers of their customers, unless other laws or regulations specifically require or permit the management of resident registration numbers. In addition, under the Use and Protection of Credit Information Act, a financial institution has a higher duty to protect all information
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that it collects from its customers and is required to treat such information as credit information. A financial institution’s ability to transfer or provide the information to its affiliates or holding company is considerably restricted. Treble damages may be imposed on a financial institution for leakage of such information. Furthermore, under the Electronic Financial Transaction Act, a financial institution is primarily responsible for compensating its customers harmed by a cyber security breach affecting the financial institution even if the breach is not directly attributable to the financial institution.
In June 2016, the Financial Services Commission proposed the enactment of the Act on the Financial Consumer Protection Framework, which was submitted to the Korean National Assembly in May 2017. If the act is adopted as proposed, we as a financial instrument distributor will be subject to heightened investor protection measures, including stricter distribution guidelines, improved financial dispute resolution procedures, increased liability for customer losses and newly imposed penalty surcharges.
These and other measures that may be implemented by the Korean government to strengthen consumer protection laws applicable to financial institutions may limit our operational flexibility and cause us to incur significant additional compliance costs, as well as subject us to increased potential liability to our customers, which could adversely affect our business and performance.
The Korean government may promote lending and financial support by the Korean financial industry to certain types of borrowers as a matter of policy, which financial institutions, including us, may decide to follow.
Through its policies and recommendations, the Korean government has promoted and, as a matter of policy, may continue to attempt to promote lending by the Korean financial industry to particular types of borrowers. For example, the Korean government has in the past provided and may continue to provide policy loans, which encourage lending to particular types of borrowers. It has generally done this by identifying sectors of the economy it wishes to promote and making low interest funding available to financial institutions that may voluntarily choose to lend to these sectors. The government has in this manner provided policy loans intended to promote mortgage lending to low-income individuals and lending to small- and medium-sized enterprises. All loans or credits we choose to make pursuant to these policy loans would be subject to review in accordance with our credit approval procedures. However, the availability of policy loans may influence us to lend to certain sectors or in a manner in which we otherwise would not in the absence of such loans from the government.
In the past, the Korean government has also announced policies under which financial institutions in Korea are encouraged to provide financial support to particular sectors. For example, in light of the deteriorating financial condition and liquidity position ofsmall- and medium-sized enterprises in Korea and adverse conditions in the Korean economy affecting such enterprises, the Korean government introduced measures intended to encourage Korean banks to provide financial support to small- and medium-sized enterprise and retail borrowers. See “—Risks relating to our small- and medium-sized enterprise loan portfolio—We have significant exposure to small- andmedium-sized enterprises, and any financial difficulties experienced by these customers may result in a deterioration of our asset quality and have an adverse impact on us.” and “—Risks relating to our retail credit portfolio—Future changes in market conditions as well as other factors may lead to increases in delinquency levels of our retail loan portfolio.” The Korean government may in the future request financial institutions in Korea, including us, to make investments in or provide other forms of financial support to particular sectors of the Korean economy as a matter of policy, which financial institutions, including us, may decide to accept. We may incur costs or losses as a result of providing such financial support.
The Financial Services Commission may impose burdensome measures on us if it deems us or one of our subsidiaries to be financially unsound.
If the Financial Services Commission deems our financial condition or the financial condition of our subsidiaries to be unsound, or if we or our subsidiaries fail to meet applicable regulatory standards, such as
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minimum capital adequacy and liquidity ratios, the Financial Services Commission may order or recommend, among other things:
capital increases or reductions;
stock cancelations or consolidations;
transfers of businesses;
sale of assets;
closures of subsidiaries or branch offices;
mergers with other financial institutions; and
suspensions of a part of our business operations.
If any of these measures is imposed on us by the Financial Services Commission, they could hurt our business, results of operations and financial condition. In addition, if the Financial Services Commission orders us to partially or completely reduce our capital, you may lose part or all of your investment.
Risks relating to Korea
Escalations in tensions with North Korea could have an adverse effect on us and the market price of our ADSs.
Relations between Korea and North Korea have been tense throughout Korea’s modern history. The level of tension between the two Koreas has fluctuated and may increase abruptly as a result of current and future events. In particular, there have been heightened security concerns in recent years stemming from North Korea’s nuclear weapon and ballistic missile programs as well as its hostile military actions against Korea. Some of the significant incidents in recent years include the following:
North Korea renounced its obligations under the Nuclear Non-ProliferationTreaty in January 2003 and conducted six rounds of nuclear tests since October 2006, including claimed detonations of hydrogen bombs, and warheads that can be mounted on ballistic missiles. Over the years, North Korea has also conducted a series of ballistic missile tests, including missiles launched from submarines and intercontinental ballistic missiles that it claims can reach the United States mainland. In response, the Korean government has repeatedly condemned the provocations and flagrant violations of relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions. In February 2016, the government also closed the inter-Korea Gaesong Industrial Complex in response to North Korea’s fourth nuclear test in January 2016. Internationally, the United Nations Security Council has passed a series of resolutions condemning North Korea’s actions and significantly expanding the scope of sanctions applicable to North Korea, most recently in December 2017 in response to North Korea’s intercontinental ballistic missile test in November 2017. Over the years, the United States and the European Union have also expanded their sanctions applicable to North Korea.
In March 2010, a Korean naval vessel was destroyed by an underwater explosion, killing many of the crewmen on board. The Korean government formally accused North Korea of causing the sinking, while North Korea denied responsibility. Moreover, in November 2010, North Korea fired more than one hundred artillery shells that hit Korea’s Yeonpyeong Island near the Northern Limit Line, which acts as the de facto maritime boundary between Korea and North Korea on the west coast of the Korean peninsula, causing casualties and significant property damage. The Korean government condemned North Korea for the attack and vowed stern retaliation should there be further provocation.
North Korea’s economy also faces severe challenges, which may further aggravate social and political pressures within North Korea. Although bilateral summit meetings were held between the two Koreas in April,
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May and September 2018 and between the United States and North Korea in June 2018 and February 2019, there can be no assurance that the level of tensions affecting the Korean peninsula will not escalate in the future. Any increase in tensions, which may occur, for example, if North Korea experiences a leadership crisis, high-level contacts between Korea or the United States and North Korea break down or further military hostilities occur, could have a material adverse effect on the Korean economy and on our business, financial condition and results of operations and the market value of our common stock and American depositary shares, or ADSs.
Unfavorable financial and economic developments in Korea may have an adverse effect on us.
We are incorporated in Korea, and substantially all of our operations are located in Korea. As a result, we are subject to political, economic, legal and regulatory risks specific to Korea. The economic indicators in Korea in recent years have shown mixed signs of growth and uncertainty, and future growth of the Korean economy is subject to many factors beyond our control, including developments in the global economy.
In recent years, adverse conditions and volatility in the worldwide financial markets, fluctuations in oil and commodity prices and the general weakness of the global economy have contributed to the uncertainty of global economic prospects in general and have adversely affected, and may continue to adversely affect, the Korean economy. See “Other risks relating to our business—Unfavorable changes in the global financial markets could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.” The value of the Won relative to major foreign currencies has also fluctuated significantly. See “Item 3.A. Selected Financial Data—Exchange Rates.” Furthermore, as a result of changing global and Korean economic conditions, there has been volatility in the stock prices of Korean companies in recent years. Future declines in the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (known as the “KOSPI”) and large amounts of sales of Korean securities by foreign investors and subsequent repatriation of the proceeds of such sales may adversely affect the value of the Won, the foreign currency reserves held by financial institutions in Korea, and the ability of Korean companies to raise capital. Any future deterioration of the Korean or global economy could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Developments that could have an adverse impact on Korea’s economy in the future include:
adverse conditions or uncertainty in the economies of countries and regions that are important export markets for Korea, such as China, the United States, Europe and Japan, or in emerging market economies in Asia or elsewhere, as well as increased uncertainties regarding a future Brexit and deteriorating economic and trade relations between the United States and China;
adverse changes or volatility in foreign currency reserve levels, commodity prices (including oil prices), exchange rates (including fluctuation of the U.S. dollar, the Euro or the Japanese Yen exchange rates or revaluation of the Chinese Renminbi), interest rates, inflation rates or stock markets;
a continuing rise in the level of household debt and increasing delinquencies and credit defaults by retail or small- and medium-sized enterprise borrowers in Korea;
declines in consumer confidence and a slowdown in consumer spending;
a deterioration in the financial condition or performance of small- andmedium-sized enterprises and other companies in Korea due to the Korean government’s policies to increase minimum wages and limit working hours of employees;
investigations of Korean conglomerates and their senior management for bribery, embezzlement and other possible misconduct;
social and labor unrest;
decreases in the market prices of Korean real estate;
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a decrease in tax revenues and a substantial increase in the Korean government’s expenditures for fiscal stimulus measures, unemployment compensation and other economic and social programs that, together, would lead to an increased government budget deficit;
financial problems or lack of progress in the restructuring of chaebols, other large troubled companies and their suppliers;
loss of investor confidence arising from corporate accounting irregularities, allegations of corruption and corporate governance issues concerning certain chaebols;
increases in social expenditures to support an aging population in Korea or decreases in economic productivity due to the declining population size in Korea;
increased sovereign default risks in select countries and the resulting adverse effects on the global financial markets;
the economic impact of any pending or future free trade agreements or changes in existing free trade agreements;
geo-political uncertainty and the risk of further attacks by terrorist groups around the world;
natural or man-made disasters that have a significant adverse economic or other impact on Korea or its major trading partners;
the occurrence of severe health epidemics in Korea or other parts of the world, such as the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome outbreak in Korea in 2015;
deterioration in economic or diplomatic relations between Korea and its trading partners or allies, including deterioration resulting from territorial or trade disputes or disagreements in foreign policy (such as the controversy between Korea and China regarding the deployment of a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system in Korea by the United States);
political uncertainty or increasing strife among or within political parties in Korea;
hostilities or political or social tensions involving oil producing countries in the Middle East and North Africa and any material disruption in the global supply of oil or sudden increase in the price of oil;
political or social tensions involving Russia and any resulting adverse effects on the global supply of oil or the global financial markets;
an increase in the level of tensions or an outbreak of hostilities between North Korea and Korea or the United States; and
changes in financial regulations in Korea.
Labor unrest in Korea may adversely affect our operations.
Economic difficulties in Korea or increases in corporate reorganizations and bankruptcies could result in layoffs and higher unemployment. Such developments could lead to social unrest and substantially increase government expenditures for unemployment compensation and other costs for social programs. According to statistics from the Korea National Statistical Office, the unemployment rate increased from 3.7% in 2016 and 2017 to 3.8% in 2018. Further increases in unemployment and any resulting labor unrest in the future could adversely affect our operations, as well as the operations of many of our customers and their ability to repay their loans, and could adversely affect the financial condition of Korean companies in general, depressing the price of their securities. These developments would likely have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
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Risks relating to our common stock and ADSs
We or our major stockholders may sell shares of our common stock or ADSs in the future, and these and other sales may adversely affect the market price of our common stock and ADSs and may dilute your investment and relative ownership in us.
We have no current plans for any public offerings of our common stock, ADSs or securities exchangeable for or convertible into such securities. However, it is possible that we may decide to offer or sell such securities in the future. In addition, our major stockholder, the Korean National Pension Service, held approximately 9.5% of our total issued common stock as of December 31, 2018, which it may sell at any time.
Any future offerings or sales by us of our common stock or ADSs or securities exchangeable for or convertible into such securities, significant sales of our common stock by a major stockholder, or the public perception that an offering or sales may occur, could have an adverse effect on the market price of our common stock and ADSs. Furthermore, any offerings by us in the future of any such securities could have a dilutive impact on your investment and relative ownership interest in us.
Ownership of our common stock is restricted under Korean law.
Under the Financial Holding Company Act, a single stockholder, together with its affiliates, is generally prohibited from owning more than 10.0% of the issued and outstanding shares of voting stock of a bank holding company such as us that controls a nationwide bank, with the exception of certain stockholders that are non-financial business group companies, whose applicable limit has been reduced from 9.0% to 4.0% pursuant to an amendment of the Financial Holding Company Act which became effective from February 14, 2014. To the extent that the total number of shares of our common stock (including those represented by ADSs) that a holder and its affiliates own exceeds the applicable limits, that holder will not be entitled to exercise the voting rights for the excess shares, and the Financial Services Commission may order that holder to dispose of the excess shares within a period of up to six months. Failure to comply with such an order would result in an administrative fine of up to 0.03% of the book value of such shares per day until the date of disposal. Non-financial business group companies can no longer acquire more than 4.0% of the issued and outstanding shares of voting stock of a bank holding company pursuant to the amended Financial Holding Company Act, which grants an exception for non-financial business group companies which, at the time of the enactment of the amended provisions, held more than 4.0% of the shares thereof with the approval of the Financial Services Commission before the amendment. See “Item 4.B. Business Overview—Supervision and Regulation—Principal Regulations Applicable to Financial Holding Companies—Restrictions on Ownership of a Financial Holding Company.”
A holder of our ADSs may not be able to exercise dissent and appraisal rights unless it has withdrawn the underlying shares of our common stock and become our direct stockholder.
In some limited circumstances, including the transfer of the whole or any significant part of our business and the merger or consolidation of us with another company, dissenting stockholders have the right to require us to purchase their shares under Korean law. However, holders of our ADSs will not be able to exercise such dissent and appraisal rights if the depositary refuses to do so on their behalf. Our deposit agreement does not require the depositary to take any action in respect of exercising dissent and appraisal rights. In such a situation, holders of our ADSs must withdraw the underlying common stock from the ADS facility (and incur charges relating to that withdrawal) and become our direct stockholder prior to the record date of the stockholders’ meeting at which the relevant transaction is to be approved, in order to exercise dissent and appraisal rights.
A holder of our ADSs may be limited in its ability to deposit or withdraw common stock.
Under the terms of our deposit agreement, holders of common stock may deposit such stock with the depositary’s custodian in Korea and obtain ADSs, and holders of ADSs may surrender ADSs to the depositary
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and receive common stock. However, to the extent that a deposit of common stock exceeds the difference between:
the aggregate number of common shares we have deposited or we have consented to allow to be deposited for the issuance of ADSs (including deposits in connection with offerings of ADSs and stock dividends or other distributions relating to ADSs); and
the number of shares of common stock on deposit with the custodian for the benefit of the depositary at the time of such proposed deposit,
such common stock will not be accepted for deposit unless
our consent with respect to such deposit has been obtained; or
such consent is no longer required under Korean laws and regulations.
Under the terms of the deposit agreement, no consent is required if the shares of common stock are obtained through a dividend, free distribution, rights offering or reclassification of such stock. We have consented, under the terms of the deposit agreement, to any deposit to the extent that, after the deposit, the number of deposited shares does not exceed such number of shares as we determine from time to time (which number shall at no time be less than 100,000,000 shares), unless the deposit would be prohibited by applicable laws or ownership restrictions or violate our articles of incorporation. We might not consent to the deposit of any additional common stock. As a result, if a holder surrenders ADSs and withdraws common stock, it may not be able to deposit the stock again to obtain ADSs.
A holder of our ADSs will not have preemptive rights in some circumstances.
The Korean Commercial Code and our articles of incorporation require us, with some exceptions, to offer stockholders the right to subscribe for new shares of our common stock in proportion to their existing shareholding ratio whenever new shares are issued. If we offer any rights to subscribe for additional shares of our common stock or any rights of any other nature, to the extent practicable, the depositary may make the rights available to holders of our ADSs or dispose of the rights on behalf of such holders and make the net proceeds available to such holders. The depositary, however, is not required to make available to holders any rights to purchase any additional shares of our common stock unless it timely receives evidence satisfactory to it from us that it may lawfully do so and:
a registration statement filed by us under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, is in effect with respect to those shares; or
the offering and sale of those shares is exempt from or is not subject to the registration requirements of the Securities Act.
Similarly, holders of our common stock located in the United States may not exercise any such rights they receive absent registration or an exemption from the registration requirements under the Securities Act.
We are under no obligation to file any registration statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission or to endeavor to cause such a registration statement to be declared effective. Moreover, we may not be able to establish an exemption from registration under the Securities Act. Accordingly, a holder of our ADSs may be unable to participate in our rights offerings and may experience dilution in its holdings. If a registration statement is required for a holder of our ADSs to exercise preemptive rights but is not filed by us or is not declared effective, the holder will not be able to exercise its preemptive rights for additional ADSs and it will suffer dilution of its equity interest in us. If the depositary is unable to sell rights that are not exercised or not distributed or if the sale is not lawful or practicable, it will allow the rights to lapse, in which case the holder will receive no value for these rights.
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Dividend payments and the amount a holder of our ADSs may realize upon a sale of its ADSs will be affected by fluctuations in the exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and the Won.
Our common stock is listed on the KRX KOSPI Market of the Korea Exchange and quoted and traded in Won. Cash dividends, if any, in respect of the shares represented by the ADSs will be paid to the depositary in Won and then converted by the depositary into U.S. dollars, subject to certain conditions. Accordingly, fluctuations in the exchange rate between the Won and the U.S. dollar will affect, among other things, the amounts a holder of our ADSs will receive from the depositary in respect of dividends, the U.S. dollar value of the proceeds that it would receive upon sale in Korea of the shares of our common stock obtained upon surrender of ADSs and the secondary market price of ADSs. Such fluctuations will also affect the U.S. dollar value of dividends and sales proceeds received by holders of our common stock.
The market value of an investment in our ADSs may fluctuate due to the volatility of the Korean securities market.
Our common stock is listed on the KRX KOSPI Market, which has a smaller market capitalization and is more volatile than the securities markets in the United States and many European countries. The market value of ADSs may fluctuate in response to the fluctuation of the trading price of shares of our common stock on the KRX KOSPI Market. The KRX KOSPI Market has experienced substantial fluctuations in the prices and volumes of sales of listed securities and the KRX KOSPI Market has prescribed a fixed range in which share prices are permitted to move on a daily basis. The KOSPI declined from 1,897.1 on December 31, 2007 to 938.8 on October 24, 2008. The KOSPI was 2,216.43 on April 29, 2019. There is no guarantee that the stock prices of Korean companies will not decline again in the future. Like other securities markets, including those in developed markets, the Korean securities market has experienced problems including market manipulation, insider trading and settlement failures. The recurrence of these or similar problems could have a material adverse effect on the market price and liquidity of the securities of Korean companies, including our common stock and ADSs, in both the domestic and the international markets.
The Korean government has the potential ability to exert substantial influence over many aspects of the private sector business community, and in the past has exerted that influence from time to time. For example, the Korean government has promoted mergers to reduce what it considers excess capacity in a particular industry and has also encouraged private companies to publicly offer their securities. Similar actions in the future could have the effect of depressing or boosting the Korean securities market, whether or not intended to do so. Accordingly, actions by the government, or the perception that such actions are taking place, may take place or has ceased, may cause sudden movements in the market prices of the securities of Korean companies in the future, which may affect the market price and liquidity of our common stock and ADSs.
If the Korean government deems that emergency circumstances are likely to occur, it may restrict holders of our ADSs and the depositary from converting and remitting dividends and other amounts in U.S. dollars.
If the Korean government deems that certain emergency circumstances, including, but not limited to, severe and sudden changes in domestic or overseas economic circumstances, extreme difficulty in stabilizing the balance of payments or implementing currency exchange rate and other macroeconomic policies, have occurred or are likely to occur, it may impose certain restrictions provided for under the Foreign Exchange Transaction Act, including the suspension of payments or requiring prior approval from governmental authorities for any transaction. See “Item 10.D. Exchange Controls—General.”
A holder of our ADSs may not be able to enforce a judgment of a foreign court against us.
We are a corporation with limited liability organized under the laws of Korea. Substantially all of our directors and officers and other persons named in this document reside in Korea, and all or a significant portion of the assets of our directors and officers and other persons named in this document and substantially all of our
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assets are located in Korea. As a result, it may not be possible for holders of our ADSs to effect service of process within the United States, or to enforce against them or us in the United States judgments obtained in United States courts based on the civil liability provisions of the federal securities laws of the United States. There is doubt as to the enforceability in Korea, either in original actions or in actions for enforcement of judgments of United States courts, of civil liabilities predicated on the United States federal securities laws.
Overview
We were established as a new financial holding company on September 29, 2008 pursuant to a “comprehensive stock transfer” under Korean law, whereby holders of the common stock of Kookmin Bank and certain of its subsidiaries transferred all of their shares to us in return for shares of our common stock. We were established pursuant to the Financial Holding Company Act, which was enacted in October 2000 and which, together with associated regulations and a related Enforcement Decree, has enabled banks and other financial institutions, including insurance companies, investment trust companies, credit card companies and securities companies, to be organized and managed under the auspices of a single financial holding company.
Our legal and commercial name is KB Financial Group Inc. Our registered office and principal executive offices are located at 26, Gukjegeumyung-ro 8-gil, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul 07331, Korea. Our telephone number is +82-2-2073-7114. Our agent in the United States, Kookmin Bank, New York Branch, is located at 565 Fifth Avenue, 24th Floor, New York, NY 10017. Its telephone number is (212) 697-6100. The address of our English website is https://www.kbfg.com/Eng/index.jsp.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission maintains a website (http://www.sec.gov), which contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
History of the Former Kookmin Bank
The former Kookmin Bank was established by the Korean government in 1963 under its original name of Citizens National Bank under the Citizens National Bank Act of Korea with majority government ownership. Under this Act, we were limited to providing banking services to the general public and to small- andmedium-sized enterprises. In September 1994, we completed our initial public offering in Korea and listed our shares on the KRX KOSPI Market.
In January 1995, the Citizens National Bank Act of Korea was repealed and replaced by the Repeal Act of the Citizens National Bank Act. Our status was changed from a specialized bank to a nationwide commercial bank and in February 1995, we changed our name to Kookmin Bank. The Repeal Act allowed us to engage in lending to large businesses.
History of H&CB
H&CB was established by the Korean government in 1967 under the name Korea Housing Finance Corporation. In 1969, Korea Housing Finance Corporation became the Korea Housing Bank pursuant to the Korea Housing Bank Act. H&CB was originally established to provide low and middle income households with long-term, low-interest mortgages in order to help them purchase their own homes, and to promote the increase of housing supply in Korea by providing low-interest housing loans to construction companies. Until 1997 when the Korea Housing Bank Act was repealed, H&CB was the only entity in Korea allowed to provide mortgage loans with a term of longer than ten years. H&CB also had the exclusive ability to offer housing-related deposit accounts offering preferential rights to subscribe fornewly-built apartments.
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Merger of the Former Kookmin Bank and H&CB
Effective November 1, 2001, the former Kookmin Bank and H&CB merged into a new entity named Kookmin Bank. This merger resulted in Kookmin Bank becoming the largest commercial bank in Korea. Kookmin Bank’s ADSs were listed on the New York Stock Exchange on November 1, 2001 and its common shares were listed on the KRX KOSPI Market on November 9, 2001.
Establishment of KB Financial Group
We were established on September 29, 2008 pursuant to a “comprehensive stock transfer” under Article 360-15 of the Korean Commercial Code, whereby holders of the common stock of Kookmin Bank and certain of its subsidiaries transferred all of their shares to us, a new financial holding company, and in return received shares of our common stock. In the stock transfer, each holder of one share of Kookmin Bank common stock received one share of our common stock, par value ￦5,000 per share. Holders of Kookmin Bank ADSs and global depositary shares, each of which represented one share of Kookmin Bank common stock, received one of our ADSs for every ADS or global depositary share they owned. In addition, holders of the common stock of KB Investment & Securities Co., Ltd., KB Asset Management Co., Ltd., KB Real Estate Trust Co., Ltd., KB Investment Co., Ltd., KB Futures Co., Ltd., KB Credit Information Co., Ltd., and KB Data Systems Co., Ltd., all of which were Kookmin Bank’s subsidiaries, transferred all of their shares to us and, as consideration for such transferred shares, received shares of our common stock in accordance with the specified stock transfer ratio applicable to each such subsidiary. Following the completion of the stock transfer, Kookmin Bank, KB Investment & Securities Co., Ltd., KB Asset Management Co., Ltd., KB Real Estate Trust Co., Ltd., KB Investment Co., Ltd., KB Futures Co., Ltd., KB Credit Information Co., Ltd., and KB Data Systems Co., Ltd. became our wholly-owned subsidiaries.
The purpose of the stock transfer and our establishment as a financial holding company was to reorganize the different businesses of Kookmin Bank and its subsidiaries under a holding company structure, the adoption of which we believed would:
assist us in creating an integrated system that facilitates the sharing of customer information and the development of integrated products and services by the different businesses within our subsidiaries;
assist us in expanding our business scope to include new types of business with higher profit margins;
enhance our ability to pursue strategic investments or reorganizations by way of mergers, acquisitions, spin-offs or other means;
maximize our management efficiency; and
further enhance our capacity to expand our overseas operations.
Following the stock transfer, our common stock was listed on the KRX KOSPI Market on October 10, 2008 and our ADSs were listed on the New York Stock Exchange on September 29, 2008.
Business
We are one of the largest financial holding companies in Korea, in terms of consolidated total assets, and our operations include Kookmin Bank, one of the leading commercial banks in Korea. Our subsidiaries collectively engage in a broad range of businesses, including commercial banking, credit cards, asset management, non-life and life insurance, capital markets activities and international banking and finance. As of December 31, 2018, we had consolidated total assets of ￦480 trillion, consolidated total deposits of ￦277 trillion and consolidated total equity of ￦36 trillion.
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As part of our commercial banking activities, we provide credit and related financial services to individuals and small- and medium-sized enterprises and, to a lesser extent, to large corporate customers. We also provide a full range of deposit products and related services to both individuals and enterprises of all sizes. We provide these services predominantly through Kookmin Bank.
By their nature, our core consumer and small- and medium-sized enterprise operations place a high premium on customer access and convenience. Our combined banking network of 1,057 branches as of December 31, 2018, one of the most extensive in Korea, provides a solid foundation for our business and is a major source of our competitive strength. This network provides us with a large, stable and cost effective funding source, enables us to provide our customers convenient access and gives us the ability to provide the customer attention and service essential to conducting our business, particularly in an increasingly competitive environment. Our branch network is further enhanced by automated banking machines and fixed-line, smartphone and Internet banking. As of December 31, 2018, we had a customer base of approximately 34.2 million retail customers, which represented over one-half of the Korean population.
The following table sets forth the principal components of our lending business as of the dates indicated. As of December 31, 2018, retail loans and credit card loans and receivables accounted for 54.7% of our total loan portfolio:
Retail
Mortgage and home equity(1)
Other consumer(2)
Total retail
Credit card
Total loans
Includes ￦817 billion, ￦699 billion and ￦6,072 billion of overdraft loans secured by real estate in connection with home equity loans as of December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018, respectively.
Includes ￦7,670 billion, ￦7,791 billion and ￦9,361 billion of overdraft loans as of December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018, respectively.
We provide a full range of personal lending products and retail banking services to individual customers, including mortgage loans. We are the largest private sector mortgage lender in Korea.
Lending to small- and medium-sized enterprises is the single largest component of our non-retail credit portfolio and represents a widely diversified exposure to a broad spectrum of the Korean corporate community, both by type of lending and type of customer, with one of the categories being collateralized loans to SOHO customers that are among the smallest of the small- and medium-sized enterprises. The volume of our loans to small- and medium-sized enterprises requires a customer-oriented approach that is facilitated by our large and geographically diverse branch network.
With respect to large corporate customers, we continue to seek to maintain and expand quality relationships by providing them with an increasing range of fee-related services.
Strategy
Our strategic focus is to become a world-class financial group that ranks among the leaders of the financial industry in Asia and globally. We plan to continue to solidify our market position as Korea’s leading financial
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group, enhance our ability to provide comprehensive financial services to our retail and corporate customers and strengthen our overseas operating platform and network. We believe our strong market position in the commercial banking area in Korea is an important competitive advantage, which will enable us to compete more effectively based on convenient delivery, product breadth and differentiation, and service quality while focusing on our profitability.
The key elements of our strategy are as follows:
Providing comprehensive financial services and maximizing synergies among our subsidiaries through our financial holding company structure
We believe the Korean financial services market has been undergoing and will continue to undergo significant change, resulting from, among other things, fluctuations in the Korean and global economy and the evolving social landscape in Korea, including the acceleration of population aging in Korea, the prevalence of smartphone usage, developments in digital and mobile technologies and the ensuing trend toward high-tech “smart banking” in the banking sector. In the context of such changes, we plan to become a comprehensive financial services provider capable of offering a full range of products and services to our large existing base of retail and corporate customers, as well as a global firm that can effectively compete with leading international financial institutions. To that end, we are continuing to implement specific initiatives including the enhancement of our group-wide integrated customer relationship management system to facilitate the sharing of customer information in accordance with applicable laws and the integration of various customer loyalty programs among our subsidiaries.
We believe our financial holding company structure gives us a competitive advantage over commercial banks and unaffiliated financial services providers by:
allowing us to offer a more extensive range of financial products and services;
enabling us to share customer information, which is not permitted outside a financial holding company structure, thereby enhancing our risk management capabilities;
enhancing our ability to reduce costs in areas such as back-officeprocessing and procurement; and
enabling us to raise and manage capital on a centralized basis.
Identifying, targeting and marketing to attractive customer segments and providing superior customer value and service to such segments
In recent years, rather than focusing on developing products and services to satisfy the overall needs of the general population, we have increasingly targeted specific market segments in Korea that we expect to generate superior growth and profitability. We will continue to implement a targeted marketing approach that seeks to identify the most attractive customer segments and to develop strategies to build market share in those segments. In particular, we intend to increase our “wallet share” of superior existing customers by using our advanced customer relationship management technology to better identify and meet the needs of our most creditworthy and high net worth customers, on whom we intend to concentrate our marketing efforts. For example, as part of this strategy, we operate a “priority customer” program called KB Star Club through five of our subsidiaries, Kookmin Bank, KB Securities, KB Insurance, KB Kookmin Card and KB Life Insurance. We select and classify KB Star Club customers based on their transaction history with the five entities and provide such customers with preferential treatment in various areas, including interest rates and transaction fees, depending upon how they are classified. We also provide private banking services, including personal wealth management services through our exclusive brand “Gold & Wise,” to increase our share of the priority customer market and in turn increase our profitability and strengthen our position in retail banking.
We are also focusing on attracting and retaining creditworthy customers by offering more differentiatedfee-based products and services that are tailored to meet their specific needs. The development and marketing of
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our products and services are, in part, driven by customer segmentation to ensure that we meet the needs of each customer segment. For instance, we continue to develop hybrid financial products with enhanced features, including various deposit products and investment products, for which consumer demand has increased in recent years. We are also focusing on addressing the needs of our customers by providing the highest-quality products and services and developing an open-architecture strategy, which allows us to sell such products through one of the largest branch networks in Korea. In short, we aim to offer our customers a convenient one-stop financial services destination where they can meet their traditional retail and corporate banking requirements, as well as find a broad array of fee-based products and services tailored to address more specific financial needs, including in investment banking, securities brokerage, insurance and wealth management. We believe such differentiated, comprehensive services and cross-selling will not only enhance customer loyalty but also increase profitability.
One of our key customer-related strategies continues to be creating greater value and better service for our customers. We intend to continue improving our customer service, including through:
Improved customer relationship management technology. Management has devoted substantial resources toward development of our customer relationship management system, which is designed to provide our employees with the information needed to continually improve the level of service and incentives offered to our preferred customers. Our integrated customer relationship system allows for better customer management and streamlines our customer reward system. We have also developedstate-of-the-art call centers, smartphone applications and online Internet capabilities to provide shorter response times to customers seeking information or to execute transactions. Our goals are to continually focus on improving customer service to satisfy our customers’ needs through continuing efforts to deliver new and improved services and to upgrade our customer relationship management system to provide the best possible service to our customers in the future.
Enhanced distribution channels. We also believe we can improve customer retention and usage rates by increasing the range of products and services we offer and by developing a differentiated, multi-channel distribution network, including branches, ATMs, call centers, smartphone banking and Internet banking. We believe that our leading market position in the commercial banking area in Korea gives us a competitive advantage in developing and enhancing our distribution capabilities.
Focusing on expanding and improving credit quality in our corporate lending business and increasing market share in the corporate financial services market
We plan to focus on corporate lending as one of our core businesses through attractingtop-tier corporate customers and providing customized and distinctive products and services to build our position as a leading service provider in the Korean corporate financial market. To increase our market share in providing financial services to the corporate market, we intend to:
promote a more balanced and strengthened portfolio with respect to our corporate business by developing our large corporate customer base and utilizing our improved credit management operations to better evaluate new large corporate and small- and medium-sized enterprise customers;
develop and sell more varied corporate financial products, consisting of transactional banking products which provide higher margin and less risk;
generate more fee income from large corporate customers through business-to-business transactions, foreign exchange transactions and derivative and other investment products, as well as investment banking services;
strengthen our marketing system based on our accumulated expertise in order to attract top-tier corporate customers;
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focus on enhancing our channel network in order to provide the best service by strengthening our corporate customer management; and
further develop and train our core professionals with respect to this market, including through programs such as the “Career Development Path.”
Strengthening internal risk management capabilities
We believe that ensuring strong asset quality through effective credit risk management is critical to maintaining stable growth and profitability and risk management will continue to be one of our key focus areas. One of our highest priorities is to improve our asset quality and more effectively price our lending products to take into account inherent credit risk in our portfolio. Our goal is to maintain the soundness of our credit portfolio, profitability and capital base. To this end, we intend to continue to strengthen our internal risk management capabilities by tightening our underwriting and management policies and improving our internal compliance policies. To accomplish this objective, we have undertaken the following initiatives:
Strengthening underwriting procedures with advanced credit scoring techniques. We have centralized our credit management operations into our Credit Group. Through such centralization, we aim to enhance our credit management expertise and improve our system ofchecks-and-balances with respect to our credit portfolio. We have also improved our ability to evaluate the credit of our small-and medium-sized enterprise customers through assigning experienced credit officers to our regional credit offices. We also require the same officer to evaluate, review and monitor the outstanding loans and other credits with respect to a customer, which we believe enhances the expertise and improves the efficiency and accountability of such officer, while enabling us to maintain a consistent credit policy. We have also, as a general matter, implemented enhanced credit analysis and scoring techniques, which we believe will enable us to make better-informed decisions about the credit we extend and improve our ability to respond more quickly to incipient credit problems. We are also focusing on enhancing our asset quality through improvement of our early monitoring systems and collection procedures.
Improving our internal compliance policy and ensuring strict application in our daily operations. We have improved our monitoring capabilities with respect to our internal compliance by providing training and educational programs to our management and employees. We have also implemented strict compliance policies to maintain the integrity of our risk management system.
Cultivating a performance-based,customer-oriented culture that emphasizes market best practices
We believe a strong and dedicated workforce is critical to our ability to offer our customers the highest quality financial services and is integral to our goal of maintaining our position as one of Korea’s leading financial services providers. In the past, we have dedicated significant resources to develop and train our core professionals, and we intend to continue to enhance the productivity of our employees, including by regularly sponsoring in-house training and educational programs. We have also been seeking to cultivate a performance-based culture to create a work environment where members of our staff are incentivized to maximize their potential and in which our employees are directly rewarded for superior performance. We intend to maintain a professional workforce whose high quality of customer service reflects our goal to achieve and maintain global best practice standards in all areas of operations.
Retail Banking
Due to Kookmin Bank’s history and development as a retail bank and the know-how and expertise we have acquired from our activities in that market, retail banking has been and will continue to remain one of our core businesses. Our retail banking activities consist primarily of lending and deposit-taking.
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Lending Activities
We offer various loan products that target different segments of the population, with features tailored to each segment’s financial profile and other characteristics. The following table sets forth the balances and the percentage of our total retail lending represented by the categories of our retail loans as of the dates indicated:
Retail:
Mortgage and home equity loans
Other consumer loans(1)
Total
Excludes credit card loans, but includes overdraft loans.
Our retail loans consist of:
Mortgage loans, which are loans made to customers to finance home purchases, construction, improvements or rentals; and home equity loans, which are loans made to our customers secured by their homes to ensure loan repayment. We also provide overdraft loans in connection with our home equity loans.
Other consumer loans, which are loans made to customers for any purpose (other than mortgage and home equity loans). These include overdraft loans, which are loans extended to customers to cover insufficient funds when they withdraw funds from their demand deposit accounts with us in excess of the amount in such accounts up to a limit established by us.
For secured loans, including mortgage and home equity loans, our policy is to lend up to 100% of the adjusted collateral value (except in areas of high speculation designated by the government where we generally limit our lending to between 40% to 60% of the appraised value of collateral) minus the value of any lien or other security interests that are prior to our security interest. In calculating the adjusted collateral value for real estate, we use the appraisal value of the collateral multiplied by a factor, generally between 40% to 79% (40% to 70% in the case of mortgage and home equity loans). This factor varies depending upon the location and use of the real estate and is established in part by taking into account court-supervised auction prices for nearby properties.
A borrower’s eligibility for our mortgage loans depends on the value of the mortgage property, the appropriateness of the use of proceeds and the borrower’s creditworthiness. A borrower’s eligibility for home equity loans is determined by the borrower’s credit and the value of the property, while the borrower’s eligibility for other consumer loans is primarily determined by the borrower’s credit. If the borrower’s credit deteriorates, it may be difficult for us to recover the loan. As a result, we review the borrower’s creditworthiness, collateral value, credit scoring and third party guarantees when evaluating a borrower. In addition, to reduce the interest rate of a loan or to qualify for a loan, a borrower may provide collateral, deposits or guarantees from third parties.
Mortgage and Home Equity Lending
The housing finance market in Korea is divided into public sector and private sector lending. In the public sector, two government entities, the National Housing Urban Fund and the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation, are responsible for most of the mortgage lending.
Private sector mortgage and home equity lending in Korea has expanded substantially in recent years. We provide customers with a number of mortgage and home equity loan products that have flexible features,
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including terms, repayment schedules, amounts and eligibility for loans, and we offer interest rates on a commercial basis. The maximum term of mortgage loans is 35 years and the majority of our mortgage loans have long-term maturities, which may be renewed. Non-amortizing home equity loans have a maturity of one to five years and home equity loans subject to amortization of principal may have a maximum term of up to 35 years. As of December 31, 2018, we had ￦29,400 billion of amortizing home equity loans, representing 92.7% of our total home equity loans, and ￦2,307 billion of non-amortizing home equity loans, representing 7.3% of our total home equity loans. Any customer is eligible for a mortgage or an individual home equity loan regardless of whether it participates in one of our housing related savings programs and so long as that customer is not barred by regulation from obtaining a loan because of bad credit history. However, customers with whom we frequently transact business and provide us with significant revenue receive preferential interest rates on loans.
As of December 31, 2018, 59.3% of our mortgage loans were secured by residential property which is the subject of the loan, 22.3% of our mortgage loans were guaranteed by the Housing Finance Credit Guarantee Fund, a government housing-related entity, and the remaining 18.4% of our mortgage loans, contrary to general practices in the United States, were unsecured (although the use of proceeds from these loans is restricted to financing of home purchases and some of these loans are guaranteed by a third party). One reason that a relatively high percentage of our mortgage loans are unsecured is that we, along with other Korean banks, provide advance loans to borrowers for the down payment of new housing (particularly apartments) that is in the process of being built. Once construction is completed, which may take several years, these mortgage loans become secured by the new housing purchased by these borrowers. For the year ended December 31, 2018, the average initial loan-to-value ratio of our mortgage loans, which is a measure of the amount of loan exposure to the appraised value of the security collateralizing the loan, was approximately 50.9%. There are three reasons that our loan-to-value ratio is relatively lower (as is the case with other Korean banks) compared to similar ratios in other countries, such as the United States. The first reason is that housing prices are high in Korea relative to average income, so most people cannot afford to borrow an amount equal to the entire value of their collateral and make interest payments on such an amount. The second reason relates to the “jeonsae” system, through which people provide a key money deposit while residing in the property prior to its purchase. At the time of purchase, most people use the key money deposit as part of their payment and borrow the remaining amount from Korean banks, which results in a loan that will be for an amount smaller than the appraised value of the property for collateral and assessment purposes. The third reason is that Korean banks discount the appraised value of the borrower’s property for collateral and assessment purposes so that a portion of the appraised value is reserved in order to provide recourse to a renter who lives at the borrower’s property. This is in the event that the borrower’s property is seized by a creditor, and the renter is no longer able to reside at that property. See “Item 3.D. Risk Factors—Other risks relating to our business—A decline in the value of the collateral securing our loans and our inability to realize full collateral value may adversely affect our credit portfolio.”
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The following table sets forth our unsecured and secured mortgage loans and home equity loans as of December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018, based on their loan classification categories under IFRS and our internal credit ratings for loans (which are described in Note 4.2.4 of the notes to our consolidated financial statements):
Mortgage:
Secured(1)
Unsecured
Home Equity:
Secured
Includes advance loans guaranteed by the Housing Finance Credit Guarantee Fund to borrowers for the down payment of new housing that is in the process of being built.
Our home equity loan portfolio includes loans that are in a second lien position. In addition to the underwriting procedures we perform when we issue home equity loans in general, we perform additional underwriting procedures with respect to home equity loans secured by a second lien to assess and confirm the value and status of any loans secured by security interests on the collateral which would be prior to our security interest under the second lien home equity loan. Under regulations implemented by the Financial Supervisory Service, our home equity loans are subject to maximum loan-to-value ratios (i.e., the ratio of the aggregate principal amount of loans, including first and second lien loans, secured by a particular item of collateral to the appraised value of such collateral) of between 40% and 70%. As such, for home equity loans, we do not lend more than an amount equal to the adjusted collateral value (i.e., the collateral value as discounted by the required loan-to-value ratio) minus the value of any loans secured by security interests on the collateral that are prior to
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our security interest. Accordingly, in order to ascertain the value of loans secured by security interests on the collateral which would be prior to our security interest and to confirm the status of such loans, we perform additional underwriting procedures including a review of the relevant title and security interest registration documents and bank documents and certificates regarding such loans. In addition, for purposes of calculating debt-to-income ratios applicable to loans secured by certain types of housing under regulations implemented by the Financial Supervisory Service (see “—Supervision and Regulation—Principal Regulations Applicable to Banks—Regulations Relating to Retail Household Loans”), which we apply on a nationwide basis for our home equity loans, we perform additional adjustments in our debt-to-income ratio calculations with respect to second lien home equity loans to account for the value of loans secured by security interests on the collateral that are prior to our security interest.
Following the issuance of a home equity loan, we make use of the Korea Credit Information Services’ database of delinquent borrowers to generally monitor the compliance of our borrowers with their other loan obligations, including the compliance of our second lien borrowers with their first lien loans. If a borrower in Korea is past due on payments of interest or principal for more than three months on any of its outstanding loans to Korean financial institutions (including mortgage, home equity, other consumer and credit card loans), such borrower is registered on the Korea Credit Information Services’ database of delinquent borrowers, which we monitor on a daily basis. The information disclosed by such database, which includes the outstanding loan amount which is past due, the identity of the delinquent borrower and the name of the applicable lending institution for such loan, provides an early warning about such borrower to our loan officers at the branch level, who then closely monitor our outstanding loans to such delinquent borrower and take appropriate preventive and remedial measures (including requiring such borrower to provide additional collateral) as necessary. Upon the occurrence of a default in the first lien position, we treat the second lien home equity loan as part of our potential problem loans or non-performing loans. More specifically, upon learning of the occurrence of a default in the first lien position, we examine our second lien home equity loan to determine whether the loan should be re-classified as “precautionary,” “substandard” or “doubtful” according to the asset classification guidelines of the Financial Services Commission. Assuming that such second lien home equity loan is not delinquent, if the outstanding principal amount of the relevant first lien loan is less than ￦15 million, we classify the entire amount of the second lien home equity loan as “precautionary” and closely monitor it as a loan that may potentially become problematic. If the outstanding principal amount of the relevant first lien loan is ￦15 million or above or the borrower is undergoing, or preparing to undergo, foreclosure proceedings with respect to the underlying collateral, we classify the estimated recoverable amount of the second lien home equity loan as “substandard” and the rest of such loan amount as “doubtful.”
Pricing. The interest rates on our retail mortgage loans are generally based on a periodic floating rate (which is based on a base rate determined for three-month, six-month or twelve-month periods using our Market Opportunity Rate system, which reflects our internal cost of funding, further adjusted to account for our expenses related to lending). Our interest rates also incorporate a margin based among other things on the type of security, the credit score of the borrower and the estimated loss on the security. We can adjust the price to reflect the borrower’s current and/or expected future contribution to us. The applicable interest rate is determined at the time of the loan. If a loan is terminated prior to its maturity, the borrower is obligated to pay us an early termination fee of approximately 1.2% to 1.4% of the loan amount in addition to the accrued interest.
The interest rates on our home equity loans are determined on the same basis as our retail mortgage loans.
As of December 31, 2018, our three-month, six-month and twelve-month base rates were 1.66%, 1.80% and 1.96%, respectively.
As of December 31, 2018, 68.4% of our outstanding mortgage and home equity loans were priced based on a floating rate.
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Other Consumer Loans
Other consumer loans are primarily unsecured. However, such loans may be secured by real estate, deposits or securities. As of December 31, 2018, approximately ￦30,412 billion, or 54.1% of our consumer loans (other than mortgage and home equity loans) were unsecured loans (although some of these loans were guaranteed by a third party). Overdraft loans are also classified as other consumer loans, are primarily unsecured and generally have an initial maturity of one year, which is typically extended automatically on an annual basis and may be extended up to a maximum of five years. The amount of overdraft loans as of December 31, 2018 was approximately ￦9,361 billion.
Pricing. The interest rates on our other consumer loans (including overdraft loans) are determined on the same basis as on our mortgage and home equity loans, except that, for unsecured loans, the borrower’s credit score as determined during our loan approval process is also taken into account. See “Item 11. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk—Credit Risk Management.”
As of December 31, 2018, 54.1% of our other consumer loans had interest rates that were not fixed but were variable in reference to our base rate, which is based on the Market Opportunity Rate.
Deposit-taking Activities
Due to our extensive nationwide network of branches, together with our long history of development and our resulting know-how and expertise, as of December 31, 2018, we had the largest number of retail customers and retail deposits among Korean commercial banks. The balance of our deposits from retail customers was ￦161,232 billion, ￦169,246 and ￦174,851 billion as of December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018, respectively, which constituted 67.3%, 66.2% and 63.2%, respectively, of the balance of our total deposits.
We offer many deposit products that target different segments of our retail customer base, with features tailored to each segment’s financial profile, characteristics and needs, including:
Demand deposits, which either do not accrue interest or accrue interest at a lower rate than time deposits. Demand deposits allow the customer to deposit and withdraw funds at any time and, if they are interest bearing, accrue interest at a variable rate depending on the amount of deposit. Retail and corporate demand deposits constituted 40.9% of our total deposits as of December 31, 2018 and paid average interest of 0.30% for 2018.
Time deposits, which generally require the customer to maintain a deposit for a fixed term, during which the deposit accrues interest at a fixed rate or a variable rate based on the KOSPI, or to deposit specified amounts on an installment basis. If the amount of the deposit is withdrawn prior to the end of the fixed term, the customer will be paid a lower interest rate than that originally offered. The term for time deposits typically ranges from one month to three years, and the term for installment savings deposits ranges from six months to five years. Retail and corporate time deposits constituted 51.7% of our total deposits as of December 31, 2018 and paid average interest of 1.87% for 2018. Most installment savings deposits offer fixed interest rates.
Certificates of deposit, the maturities of which typically range from 30 days to 730 days with a required minimum deposit of ￦10 million. Interest rates on certificates of deposit are determined based on the length of the deposit and prevailing market rates. Our certificates of deposit are sold at a discount to their face value, reflecting the interest payable on the certificates of deposit.
Foreign currency deposits, which are available to Korean and foreign residents, non-residents and overseas immigrants. We offer foreign currency demand deposits and time deposits as well as checking accounts in 11 currencies. Foreign currency demand deposits, which accrue interest at a variable rate, allow customers to deposit and withdraw funds at any time. Foreign currency time deposits generally require customers to maintain the deposit for a fixed term, during which the deposit accrues interest at a fixed rate. If the funds in a foreign currency time deposit are withdrawn prior to the end of the fixed term, the customer will be paid a lower interest rate than that originally offered.
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We offer varying interest rates on our deposit products depending upon average funding costs, the rate of return on our interest earning assets and the interest rates offered by other commercial banks.
We also offer comprehensive savings deposits for housing subscription, which are monthly installment savings deposits that provide the holder with preferential rights to subscribe for both public and private housing under the Housing Act. This law is the basic law setting forth various measures supporting the purchase of houses and the supply of such houses by construction companies. These deposits require monthly installments of ￦20,000 to ￦500,000 and accrue interest at variable rates depending on the term. An eligible account holder with ￦70 million or less in annual salary income may also claim a tax deduction for 40% of its annual installment amounts, subject to a maximum deductible amount, in its income tax return for the year under the Special Tax Treatment Control Law.
In 2002, after significant research and planning, we launched private banking operations at Kookmin Bank’s headquarters. Shortly thereafter, we launched a comprehensive strategy with respect to customers with higher net worth, which included staffing appropriate representatives, marketing aggressively, establishing IT systems, selecting appropriate branch locations and readying such branches with the necessary facilities to service such customers. As of December 31, 2018, we operated 21 private banking centers through Kookmin Bank.
The Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of Korea, or the Monetary Policy Committee, imposes a reserve requirement on Won currency deposits of commercial banks based generally on the type of deposit instrument. The reserve requirement is currently up to 7%. See “—Supervision and Regulation—Principal Regulations Applicable to Banks—Liquidity.”
The Depositor Protection Act provides for a deposit insurance system where the Korea Deposit Insurance Corporation guarantees to depositors the repayment of their eligible bank deposits. The deposit insurance system insures up to a total of ￦50 million per depositor per bank. See “—Supervision and Regulation—Principal Regulations Applicable to Banks—Deposit Insurance System.” We paid ￦401 billion of premium for 2018.
Credit Cards
Credit cards are another of our core retail products. We issue most of our credit cards under the “KB Kookmin Card” brand. Our credit card business is operated by our subsidiary, KB Kookmin Card Co., Ltd.
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The following table sets forth certain data relating to our credit card operations, on a non-consolidated basis, as of the dates and for the periods indicated:
Number of credit cardholders (at year end) (thousands)
General accounts
Corporate accounts
Number of merchants (at year end) (thousands)
Active ratio (at year end)(1)
Credit card fees(2)
Merchant fees(3)
Installment and cash advance fees
Annual membership fees
Other fees
Charge volume(4)
General purchase
Installment purchase
Cash advance
Card loan(5)
Outstanding balance (at year end)
Average outstanding balances
Delinquency ratios (at year end)(6)
From 1 month to 3 months
From 3 months to 6 months
Over 6 months
Non-performing loan ratio
Write-offs (gross)
Recoveries(7)
Net write-offs
Gross write-off ratio(8)
Net write-off ratio(9)
The active ratio represents the ratio of accounts used at least once within the last six months to total accounts as of year-end.
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Due to our adoption of IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers, effective as of January 1, 2018, credit card fees for 2018 exclude certain fees related to our services provided to cardholders. Figures for prior years have not been restated to reflect such changes and may not be directly comparable.
Merchant fees consist of maintenance fees and costs associated with prepayment by us (on behalf of customers) of sales proceeds to merchants, processing fees relating to sales and membership applications, costs relating to the management of delinquencies and recoveries, provision for loan losses, general variable expenses and other fixed costs that are charged to our member merchants. We typically charge our member merchants fees that range from 0.8% to 2.3%. We offer discounts for member merchants that are small- and medium-sized enterprises pursuant to applicable laws.
Represents the aggregate cumulative amount charged during the year.
Card loans consist of loans that are provided on an unsecured basis to cardholders upon prior agreement. Payment on such a loan can be due either in one payment or in installments after a fixed period, in the case of principal payments, and will be due in installments, in the case of interest payments.
Represents ratio of credit card balances overdue by one month or more to outstanding balance. In line with industry practice, we have restructured a portion of delinquent credit card account balances as loans. As of December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018, these restructured loans amounted to ￦43 billion, ￦55 billion and ￦97 billion, respectively. Because these restructured loans are not treated as being delinquent at the time of conversion or for a period of time thereafter, our delinquency ratios may not fully reflect all delinquent amounts relating to our outstanding balances.
Does not include proceeds that we received from sales of ournon-performing loans that were written off.
Represents the ratio of gross write-offs for the year to average outstanding balance for the year. Our charge-off policy is generally to write off balances which have been overdue for four payment cycles or more or which have been classified as expected loss.
Represents the ratio of net write-offs for the year to average outstanding balances for the year. Our charge-off policy is generally to write off balances which have been overdue for four payment cycles or more or which have been classified as expected loss.
In contrast to the system in the United States and many other countries, where most credit cards are revolving cards that allow outstanding amounts to be rolled over from month to month so long as a required minimum percentage is repaid, credit cardholders in Korea are generally required to pay for their purchases within approximately 14 to 44 days of purchase depending on their payment cycle. However, we also offer revolving payment plans to individuals that allow outstanding amounts to be rolled over to subsequent payment periods. Delinquent accounts (defined as amounts overdue for one day or more) are charged penalty interest and closely monitored. For installment purchases, we charge interest on unpaid installments at rates that vary according to the individual cardholder’s membership level, which is based on, among others, transaction history, the length of the cardholder’s relationship with us and contribution to our profitability.
We are committed to continuing to enhance our credit card business by strengthening our risk management and maximizing our operational efficiency. In addition, we believe that our extensive branch network, brand recognition and overall size will enable us to cross-sell products such as credit cards to our existing and new customers.
To promote our credit card business, we offer services targeted to various financial profiles and customer requirements and are concentrating on:
strengthening cross-sales to existing customers and offering integrated financial services;
offering cards that provide additional benefits such as frequent flyer miles and reward program points that can be redeemed by the customer for complementary services, prizes and cash;
offering platinum cards, VVIP cards and other prime members’ cards, which have a higher credit limit and provide additional services in return for a higher fee;
acquiring new customers through strategic alliances and cross-marketingwith retailers;
encouraging increased use of credit cards by existing customers through special offers for frequent users;
introducing new features such as travel services and insurance through alliance partners; and
developing fraud detection and security systems to prevent the misuse of credit cards.
As of December 31, 2018, we had approximately 10.3 million credit cardholders. Of the credit cards outstanding, approximately 89.2% were active, meaning that they had been used at least once during the previous six months.
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Our card revenues consist principally of cash advance fees, merchant fees, credit card installment fees, interest income from credit card loans, annual fees paid by cardholders, interest and fees on late payments and, with respect to revolving payment plans we offer, interest and fees relating to revolving balances.
Under non-exclusive license agreements with overseas financial services corporations, we also issue MasterCard, Visa, American Express, JCB and China UnionPay credit cards.
We issue debit cards and charge merchants commissions that range from 1.0% to 2.0% of the amounts purchased using a debit card. We also issue “check cards,” which are similar to debit cards except that “check cards” are accepted by all merchants that accept credit cards, and charge merchants commissions that typically range from 0.5% to 1.5%. Much like debit cards, check card purchases are also debited directly from customers’ accounts with us.
Corporate Banking
We lend to and take deposits from small- and medium-sized enterprises and, to a lesser extent, large corporate customers. We had 300,106 small- and medium-sized enterprise borrowers and 1,885 large corporate borrowers for Won-currency loans as of December 31, 2018. For 2018, we received fee revenue from cash management services offered to corporate customers, which include “firm-banking” services such as inter-account transfers, transfers of funds from various branches and agencies of a company (such as insurance premium payments) to the account of the headquarters of such company and transfers of funds from various customers of a company to the main account of such company, in the amount of ￦120 billion. Of our branch network as of December 31, 2018, we had three branches that primarily handled large corporate banking.
The following table sets forth the balances and the percentage of our total corporate lending represented by our small- and medium-sized enterprise business loans and our large corporate business loans as of the dates indicated, estimated based on our internal classifications of corporate borrowers:
Corporate:
Small- andmedium-sized enterprise loans
Large corporate loans
On the deposit-taking side, we currently offer our corporate customers several types of corporate deposits. Our corporate deposit products can be divided into two general categories: (1) demand deposits that have no restrictions on deposits or withdrawals, but which offer a relatively low interest rate; and (2) deposits from which withdrawals are restricted for a period of time, but offer higher interest rates. We also offer installment savings deposits, certificates of deposit and repurchase instruments. We offer varying interest rates on deposit products depending upon the rate of return on our income-earning assets, average funding costs and interest rates offered by other nationwide commercial banks.
The total amount of deposits from our corporate customers amounted to ￦97,076 billion as of December 31, 2018, or 35.1% of our total deposits.
Small- and Medium-sized Enterprise Banking
Our small- and medium-sized enterprise banking business has traditionally been and will remain one of our core businesses because of both our historical development and our accumulated expertise. We believe that we
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possess the necessary elements to succeed in the small- and medium-sized enterprise market, including our extensive branch network, our credit rating system for credit approval, our marketing capabilities (which we believe have provided us with significant brand loyalty) and our ability to take advantage of economies of scale.
We use the term “small- and medium-sizedenterprises” as defined in the Framework Act on Small and Medium Enterprises and related regulations. Under the Framework Act on Small and Medium Enterprises and related regulations, an enterprise must meet each of the following criteria in order to meet the definition of a small- and medium-sized enterprise: (i) total assets at the end of the immediately preceding fiscal year must be less than ￦500 billion, (ii) the average or annual sales revenue standards as prescribed by the Enforcement Decree of the Framework Act on Small and Medium Enterprises that are applicable to the enterprise’s primary business must be met and (iii) the standards of management independence as prescribed by the Enforcement Decree of the Framework Act on Small and Medium Enterprises must be met. In addition, certified social enterprises (as defined in the Social Enterprise Promotion Act) and cooperatives and federations of cooperatives (each as defined in the Framework Act on Cooperatives and the Consumer Cooperatives Act) that satisfy the requirements prescribed by the Framework Act on Small and Medium Enterprises may also qualify as small- and medium-sized enterprises.
Our principal loan products for our small- and medium-sized enterprise customers are working capital loans and facilities loans. Working capital loans are provided to finance working capital requirements and include notes discounted and trade financing. Facilities loans are provided to finance the purchase of equipment and the establishment of manufacturing assembly plants. As of December 31, 2018, working capital loans and facilities loans accounted for 48.1% and 51.9%, respectively, of our total small- and medium-sized enterprise loans. As of December 31, 2018, we had 300,106 small- and medium-sized enterprise customers on the lending side.
Loans to small- and medium-sized enterprises may be secured by real estate or deposits or may be unsecured. As of December 31, 2018, secured loans and guaranteed loans accounted for, in the aggregate, 86.3% of our small- andmedium-sized enterprise loans. Among the secured loans, 95.9% were secured by real estate and 4.1% were secured by deposits or securities. Working capital loans generally have a maturity of one year, but may be extended for additional terms of up to one year in length for an aggregate term of five years. Facilities loans have a maximum maturity of 15 years.
When evaluating the extension of working capital loans, we review the corporate customer’s creditworthiness and capability to generate cash. Furthermore, we take credit guaranty letters from other financial institutions and use time deposits that the borrower has with us as collateral, and may require additional collateral.
The value of any collateral is defined using a formula that takes into account the appraised value of the property, any prior liens or other claims against the property and an adjustment factor based on a number of considerations including, with respect to property, the value of any nearby property sold in a court-supervised auction during the previous five years. We revalue any collateral on a periodic basis (generally every year) or if a trigger event occurs with respect to the loan in question.
We also offer mortgage loans to home builders or developers who build or sell single- or multi-family housing units, principally apartment buildings. Many of these builders and developers are categorized as small- andmedium-sized enterprises. We offer a variety of such mortgage loans, including loans to purchase property or finance the construction of housing units and loans to contractors used for working capital purposes. Such mortgage loans subject us to the risk that the housing units will not be sold. As a result, we review the probability of the sale of the housing unit when evaluating the extension of a loan. We also review the borrower’s creditworthiness and the adequacy of the intended use of proceeds. Furthermore, we take a lien on the land on which the housing unit is to be constructed as collateral. If the collateral is not sufficient to cover the loan, we also take a guarantee from the Housing Finance Credit Guarantee Fund as security.
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A substantial number of our small- and medium-sized enterprise customers are SOHOs, which we currently define to include sole proprietorships and individual business interests. With respect to SOHOs, we apply credit risk evaluation models, which not only use quantitative analysis related to a customer’s accounts, personal credit and financial information and due amounts but also require our credit officers to perform a qualitative analysis of each potential SOHO customer. With respect to SOHO loans in excess of ￦1 billion, our credit risk evaluation model also includes a quantitative analysis of the financial statements of the underlying business. We generally lend to SOHOs on a secured basis, although a small portion of our SOHO exposures are unsecured.
Pricing
We establish the price for our corporate loan products based principally on transaction risk, our cost of funding and market considerations. Transaction risk is measured by such factors as the credit rating assigned to a particular borrower, the size of the borrower and the value and type of collateral. Our loans are priced based on the Market Opportunity Rate system, which is a periodic floating rate system that takes into account the current market interest rate. As of December 31, 2018, the Market Opportunity Rate was 1.92% for three months, 1.95% for six months and 1.98% for one year.
While we generally utilize the Market Opportunity Rate system, depending on the price and other terms set by competing banks for similar borrowers, we may adjust the interest rate we charge to compete more effectively with other banks.
Large Corporate Banking
Large corporate customers include all companies that are not small- andmedium-sized enterprise customers. Kookmin Bank’s articles of incorporation provide that financial services to large corporate customers must be no more than 40% of the total amount of our Won-denominated loans. Our business focus with respect to large corporate banking is to selectively increase the proportion of high quality large corporate customers. Specifically, we are carrying out various initiatives to improve our customer relationship with large corporate customers and have been seeking to expand our service offerings to this segment.
Our principal loan products for our large corporate customers are working capital loans and facilities loans. As of December 31, 2018, working capital loans and facilities loans accounted for 75.8% and 24.2%, respectively, of our total large corporate loans. We also offer mortgage loans to large corporate clients who build or sell single- or multi-family housing units, as described above under “—Small- and Medium-sized Enterprise Banking—Lending Activities.”
As of December 31, 2018, secured loans and guaranteed loans accounted for, in the aggregate, 25.7% of our large corporate loans. Among the secured loans, 76.9% were secured by real estate and 23.1% were secured by deposits or securities. Working capital loans generally have a maturity of one year, but may be extended for additional terms ranging from three months to one year in length for an aggregate term of five years. Facilities loans have a maximum maturity of 15 years.
In our unsecured lending to large corporate customers, a critical consideration in our policy regarding the extension of such unsecured loans is the borrower’s creditworthiness. We assign each borrower a credit rating based on the judgment of our experts or scores calculated using the appropriate credit rating system, taking into account both financial factors and non-financial factors (such as our perception of a borrower’s reliability, management and operational risk and risk relating to the borrower’s industry). The credit ratings, along with such factors, are key determinants in our lending to large corporate customers. Large corporate customers generally have higher credit ratings due to their higher repayment capability compared to other types of borrowers, such as small- and medium-sized enterprise borrowers. In addition, large corporate borrowers generally are affected to a
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lesser extent than small- and medium-sized enterprise borrowers by fluctuations in the Korean economy and also maintain more sophisticated financial records. As of December 31, 2018, 88.0% of our large corporate customers had credit ratings or BBB- or above according to the internal credit rating system of Kookmin Bank, compared to 74.5% of our small- and medium-sized enterprise customers. A credit rating of BBB- is assigned to customers whose ability to repay the principal and interest on their outstanding loans is determined by us to be generally satisfactory but nonetheless subject to adverse effects under unfavorable economic conditions or during downturns in the business environment. Based on our internal analysis of historical data, we believe that the probability of default for loans extended to large corporate customers with a credit rating of BBB- or above is between 0.00% and 2.26%.
We monitor the credit status of large corporate borrowers and collect information to adjust our ratings appropriately. We also manage and monitor our large corporate customers through a dedicated Corporate Banking Branch and Kookmin Bank’s Large Corporate Business Department. In addition, Kookmin Bank’s Credit Risk Department manages the exposures to each large corporate customer and conducts in-depth analysis of various economic and industry-related risks that are relevant to large corporate customers.
As of December 31, 2018, in terms of our outstanding loan balance, 32.8% was extended to borrowers in the manufacturing industry, 32.2% of our large corporate loans was extended to borrowers in the financial industry, and 21.1% was extended to borrowers in the service industry.
We determine pricing of our large corporate loans in the same way as we determine the pricing of our small- and medium-sized enterprise loans. See“—Small- and Medium-sized Enterprise Banking—Pricing” above. As of December 31, 2018, the Market Opportunity Rate, which is utilized in pricing loans offered by us, was the same for our large corporate loans as for our small- and medium-sized enterprise loans.
Capital Markets Activities and International Banking/Finance
Through our capital markets operations, we invest and trade in debt and equity securities and, to a lesser extent, engage in derivatives and asset securitization transactions and make call loans. We also provide investment banking and securities brokerage services.
Securities Investment and Trading
We invest in and trade securities for our own account in order to maintain adequate sources of liquidity and to generate interest and dividend income and capital gains. As of December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018, our investment portfolio, which consists primarily of financial assets at amortized cost and financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income (or held-to-maturity financial assets and available-for-salefinancial assets) and our trading portfolio had a combined total carrying amount of ￦74,777 billion, ￦99,171 billion and ￦111,434 billion (including the investment and trading portfolios of our insurance operations) and represented 19.9%, 22.7% and 23.2% of our total assets, respectively.
Our trading and investment portfolios consist primarily of Korean treasury securities and debt securities issued by Korean government agencies, local governments or certain government-invested enterprises and debt securities issued by financial institutions. As of December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018, we held debt securities with a total carrying amount of ￦61,942 billion, ￦82,989 billion and ￦107,192 billion, respectively, of which:
financial assets at amortized cost (orheld-to-maturity debt securities) accounted for ￦11,178 billion, ￦18,492 billion and ￦23,663 billion, or 18.0%, 22.3% and 22.1%, respectively;
financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income (or available-for-sale debt securities) accounted for ￦27,445 billion, ￦38,959 billion and ￦35,244 billion, or 44.4%, 46.9% and 32.9%, respectively; and
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debt securities at fair value through profit or loss accounted for ￦23,319 billion, ￦25,538 billion and ￦48,285 billion, or 37.6%, 30.8% and 45.0%, respectively.
Of these amounts, debt securities issued by the Korean government and government agencies as of December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018 amounted to:
￦2,218 billion, ￦5,448 billion and ￦5,090 billion, or 19.8%, 29.5% and 21.5%, respectively, of our financial assets at amortized cost (or held-to-maturity debt securities);
￦7,111 billion, ￦3,629 billion and ￦3,475 billion, or 25.9%, 9.3% and 9.9%, respectively, of our financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income (or available-for-sale debt securities); and
￦5,390 billion, ￦6,233 billion and ￦7,923 billion, or 23.1%, 24.4% and 16.4%, respectively, of our debt securities at fair value through profit or loss.
From time to time we also purchase equity securities for our securities portfolios. Our equity securities consist primarily of marketable beneficiary certificates and equities listed on the KRX KOSPI Market, the KRX KOSDAQ Market or the KRX KONEX Market. As of December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018:
equity securities at fair value through other comprehensive income (or available-for-sale equity securities) had a carrying amount of ￦6,525 billion, ￦9,157 billion and ￦2,370 billion, or 19.2%, 19.0% and 6.3%, respectively, of our securities at fair value through other comprehensive income (or available-for-sale securities) portfolio; and
equity securities at fair value through profit or loss had a carrying amount of ￦3,107 billion, ￦5,003 billion and ￦1,288 billion, or 11.1%, 15.5% and 2.6%, respectively, of our securities at fair value through profit or loss portfolio.
Our trading portfolio also includes derivative-linked securities, the underlying assets of which were linked to, among other things, interest rates, exchange rates, stock price indices or credit risks. As of December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018, derivative-linked securities in our trading portfolio had a carrying amount of ￦1,362 billion, ￦1,613 billion and ￦3,517 billion, or 4.9%, 5.0% and 7.1% of our trading portfolio, respectively. See “—Derivatives Trading.”
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The following tables show, as of the dates indicated, the unrealized gains and losses on financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income (or available-for-sale financial assets) and financial assets at amortized cost (or held-to-maturity financial assets) within our investment portfolio, and the amortized cost and fair value of the portfolio by type of financial asset:
Available-for-sale financial assets:
Debt securities
Korean treasury securities and government agencies
Financial institutions(1)
Corporate(2)
Asset-backed securities(3)
Others
Subtotal
Totalavailable-for-sale financial assets
Held-to-maturity financial assets:
Financial institutions(4)
Corporate(5)
Asset-backed securities(6)
Totalheld-to-maturity financial assets
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Financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income:
Total financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income
Financial assets at amortized cost:
Total financial assets at amortized cost
Includes debt securities issued by the Bank of Korea, Korea Housing Finance Corporation, Korea Development Bank, Industrial Bank of Korea and the Export-Import Bank of Korea in the aggregate amount of ￦6,749 billion as of December 31, 2016, ￦15,834 billion as of December 31, 2017 and ￦15,795 billion as of December 31, 2018. These financial institutions are owned or controlled by the Korean government.
Includes debt securities issued by Korea Housing Finance Corporation, Korea Deposit Insurance Corporation and Korea Land & Housing Corporation in the aggregate amount of ￦1,490 billion as of December 31, 2016, ￦2,254 billion as of December 31, 2017 and ￦1,857 billion as of December 31, 2018. These entities are owned or controlled by the Korean government.
Includes mortgage-backed securities issued by Korea Housing Finance Corporation, which have residential mortgage loans as underlying assets, in the amount of ￦2,730 billion as of December 31, 2016, ￦2,277 billion as of December 31, 2017 and ￦1,016 billion as of December 31, 2018. Korea Housing Finance Corporation is controlled by the Korean government.
Includes debt securities issued by the Bank of Korea, Korea Development Bank, Industrial Bank of Korea and the Export-Import Bank of Korea in the aggregate amount of ￦328 billion as of December 31, 2016, ￦1,055 billion as of December 31, 2017 and ￦5,512 billion as of December 31, 2018. These financial institutions are owned or controlled by the Korean government.
Includes debt securities issued by Korea Housing Finance Corporation, Korea Deposit Insurance Corporation and Korea Land & Housing Corporation in the aggregate amount of ￦1,169 billion as of December 31, 2016, ￦1,616 billion as of December 31, 2017 and ￦1,815 billion as of December 31, 2018. These entities are owned or controlled by the Korean government.
Includes mortgage-backed securities issued by Korea Housing Finance Corporation, which have residential mortgage loans as underlying assets, in the amount of ￦3,583 billion as of December 31, 2016, ￦4,205 billion as of December 31, 2017 and ￦4,681 billion as of December 31, 2018. Korea Housing Finance Corporation is controlled by the Korean government.
Gross carrying amount before adjusting for loss allowance for expected credit losses in accordance with IFRS 9.
Net unrealized gain and loss after adjusting for loss allowance for expected credit losses in accordance with IFRS 9.
Loss allowance for expected credit losses in accordance with IFRS 9.
Derivatives Trading
We engage in derivatives trading, including on behalf of our customers. Our trading volume increased from ￦264,110 billion in 2016 to ￦324,786 billion in 2017 and ￦376,249 billion in 2018. Our net trading revenue (expense) from derivatives for the year ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018 was ￦173 billion, ￦906 billion and ￦(284) billion, respectively.
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We provide and trade a range of derivatives products, including:
Won interest rate swaps, relating to Won interest rate risks;
cross-currency swaps, forwards and options relating to foreign exchange risks; and
stock price index options linked to the KOSPI index.
Our derivatives operations focus on addressing the needs of our corporate clients to hedge their risk exposure and the need to hedge our risk exposure that results from such client contracts. We also engage in derivatives trading activities to hedge the interest rate and foreign currency risk exposures that arise from our own assets and liabilities. In addition, we engage in proprietary trading of derivatives within our regulated open position limits.
The following shows the estimated fair value of our derivatives as of December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018:
Foreign exchange derivatives(1)
Interest rate derivatives(1)
Equity derivatives
Credit derivatives
Commodity derivatives
Others(1)
Includes those for trading purposes and hedging purposes.
The following table shows certain information related to our derivatives designated as fair value hedges for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018:
Interest rate derivatives
Other derivatives
Amounts for 2016 include ￦19 billion of offsetting profit and loss relating to non-derivative financial instruments designated as hedging instruments, which did not result in hedge ineffectiveness.
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The following table shows certain information related to our derivatives designated as cash flow hedges for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018:
Foreign exchange derivatives
Asset Securitization Transactions
We are active in the Korean asset-backed securities market. Based on our diverse experience with respect to product development and management capabilities relating to asset securitization, we offer customers a wide range of financial products and participate in various asset securitization transactions, including through our subsidiary KB Securities, to reinforce our position as a leading financial services provider with respect to the asset securitization market. We were involved in asset securitization transactions with an initial aggregate issue amount of ￦8,867 billion in 2016 (excluding such amount of Hyundai Securities for the period before it became our consolidated subsidiary), ￦9,724 billion in 2017 and ￦7,791 billion in 2018, a significant portion of which were public offerings of asset-backed securities.
Call Loans
We make call loans and borrow call money in the short-term money market. Call loans are defined as short-term lending among banks and financial institutions either in Won or in foreign currencies with maturities of 90 days or less. Typically, call loans have maturities of one day. As of December 31, 2018, we had made call loans of ￦4,064 billion and borrowed call money of ￦1,081 billion, compared to ￦3,579 billion and ￦1,299 billion, respectively, as of December 31, 2017 and ￦2,052 billion and ￦2,940 billion, respectively, as of December 31, 2016.
Investment Banking
We have focused on selectively expanding our investment banking activities in order to increase our fee income and diversify our revenue base. We provide investment banking services primarily through KB Securities and Kookmin Bank. Our principal investment banking services include:
securities underwriting;
financing and financial advisory services for mergers and acquisitions;
project finance and financial advisory services for social overhead capital projects such as highway, port, power, water and sewage projects;
financing and financial advisory services for real estate development projects; and
structured finance.
In May 2016, we acquired 22.56% of the outstanding shares of Hyundai Securities Co., Ltd., a publicly listed Korean securities firm, and further increased our shareholding in Hyundai Securities to 29.62% in June 2016 by acquiring treasury shares of Hyundai Securities. In October 2016, we effected a comprehensive stock swap of the outstanding shares of Hyundai Securities for newly issued shares of our company, as a result of
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which Hyundai Securities became a wholly-owned subsidiary. Following such transaction, we merged our existing subsidiary, KB Investment & Securities, with and into Hyundai Securities in December 2016 and changed the name of the surviving entity to KB Securities. Through the acquisition of Hyundai Securities and the creation of an integrated securities firm, we sought to strengthen our investment banking and securities brokerage capabilities, as well as to achieve economies of scale.
In 2018, we generated investment banking revenues of ￦533 billion, consisting of ￦104 billion of interest income, ￦371 billion of fee income and ￦58 billion of other income.
Securities Brokerage
We provide securities brokerage services through KB Securities. Our activities include provision of brokerage services to our retail and corporate customers relating to a wide range of investment products, including stocks, investment company products, futures, options, equity- and derivative-linked securities and debt instruments, as well as provision of prime brokerage services to hedge funds. In addition, we offer self-directed brokerage services through KB Securities’ online and smartphone brokerage platforms.
As of December 31, 2018, KB Securities operated a brokerage network consisting of 118 branches and sub-branches in Korea. In 2018, KB Securities generated commission income of ￦354 billion through its securities brokerage activities.
International Banking and Finance
We engage in various international banking and finance activities, including foreign exchange services and derivatives dealing, import and export-related services, offshore lending, syndicated loans, foreign currency securities investment and non-life insurance. These services are provided primarily to our domestic customers and overseas subsidiaries and affiliates of Korean corporations and, to a limited extent, to local companies and individuals. We also raise foreign currency funds through our international banking and finance operations.
The table below sets forth certain information regarding our foreign currency assets and borrowings:
Total foreign currency assets
Foreign currency borrowings:
Total borrowings
The table below sets forth our overseas subsidiaries, branches and representative and liaison offices in operation as of December 31, 2018:
Business Unit(1)
Subsidiaries
Kookmin Bank Cambodia PLC
Kookmin Bank (China) Ltd.
KBFG Securities America Inc.
KB Securities Hong Kong Ltd.
KB Securities Vietnam Joint Stock Company
KB Asset Management Singapore Pte. Ltd.
KB Microfinance Myanmar Co., Ltd.
Leading Insurance Services, Inc.
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LIG Insurance (China) Co., Ltd.
PT. KB Insurance Indonesia
KB Daehan Specialized Bank Plc.
KB KOLAO Leasing Co., Ltd.
KBAM Shanghai Advisory Services Co., Ltd.
Branches
Kookmin Bank (China) Ltd., Beijing Branch
Kookmin Bank (China) Ltd., Guangzhou Branch
Kookmin Bank (China) Ltd., Harbin Branch
Kookmin Bank (China) Ltd., Shanghai Branch
Kookmin Bank (China) Ltd., Suzhou Branch
Kookmin Bank, Tokyo Branch
Kookmin Bank, Auckland Branch
Kookmin Bank, New York Branch
Kookmin Bank, London Branch
Kookmin Bank, Ho Chi Minh City Branch
Kookmin Bank, Hong Kong Branch
Kookmin Bank Cambodia PLC, Toul Kork Branch
Kookmin Bank Cambodia PLC, Toul Tom Pounh Branch
Kookmin Bank Cambodia PLC, Tuek Thla Branch
Kookmin Bank Cambodia PLC, Stueng Meanchey Branch
Kookmin Bank Cambodia PLC, Chbar Ampov Branch
KB Microfinance Myanmar Co., Ltd., Hlaingtharya Branch
KB Microfinance Myanmar Co., Ltd., Shwepyithar Branch
KB Microfinance Myanmar Co., Ltd., Thanlyin Branch
KB Microfinance Myanmar Co., Ltd., Pyinmana Branch
KB Microfinance Myanmar Co., Ltd., Twantay Branch
KB Microfinance Myanmar Co., Ltd., Magway Branch
KB Microfinance Myanmar Co., Ltd., Thaketa Branch
KB Securities Vietnam Joint Stock Company, Hanoi Branch
KB Securities Vietnam Joint Stock Company, Ho Chi Minh City Branch
Kookmin Best Insurance Co., Ltd. U.S. Branch
LIG Insurance (China) Co., Ltd., Guangzhou Branch
PT. KB Insurance Indonesia Kebon Jeruk Branch
PT. KB Insurance Indonesia Jayakarta Branch
Representative and Liaison Offices
Kookmin Bank, Gurgaon Representative Office
Kookmin Bank, Yangon Representative Office
Kookmin Bank, Hanoi Representative Office
KB Securities Shanghai Representative Office
KB Kookmin Card, Yangon Representative Office
KB Insurance, Los Angeles Liaison Office
KB Insurance, Hanoi Liaison Office
KB Insurance, Ho Chi Minh City Liaison Office
Does not include subsidiaries and branches in liquidation or dissolution.
Trustee and Custodian Services Relating to Investment Trusts and Other Functions
We act as a trustee for 96 financial investment companies with a collective investment license, which invest in investment assets using funds raised by the sale of beneficiary certificates of investment trusts to investors. We
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also act as custodian for 182 financial institutions and as fund administrator for 73 financial institutions with respect to various investments, as well as acting as settlement agent in connection with such services. We receive a fee for acting in these capacities and generally perform the following functions:
holding assets for the benefit of the investment trusts or institutional investors;
receiving and making payments in respect of such investments;
acting as settlement agent in respect of such investments on behalf of the investment trust or institutional investors, in the domestic and overseas markets;
providing reports on assets held in custody;
providing certain foreign exchange services for overseas investment and foreign investors; and
providing fund-related administration and accounting services.
For the year ended December 31, 2018, our fee income from our trustee and custodian services was ￦30 billion and revenue collected as a result of administration of the underlying investments was ￦9 billion.
Other Businesses
Trust Account Management Services
Money Trust Management Services
We provide trust account management services for both specified money trusts and unspecified money trusts. We receive fees for our trust account management services consisting of basic fees that are based upon a percentage of either the net asset value of the assets or the principal under management and, for certain types of trust account operations, performance fees that are based upon the performance of the trust account operations. In 2018, our basic money trust fees ranged from 0.1% to 2.0% of total assets under management depending on the type of trust account. We also charge performance fees with respect to certain types of trust account products. We receive penalty payments when customers terminate their trust accounts prior to the original contract maturity.
We currently provide trust account management services for 20 types of money trusts. The maturity of the money trusts we manage varies by the type of the trust. Approximately 4.04% of our money trusts also provide periodic payments of dividends which are added to the assets held in such trusts and not distributed.
Under Korean law, the assets of our trust accounts are segregated from our banking account assets and are not available to satisfy the claims of any of our potential creditors. We are, however, permitted to deposit surplus funds generated by trust assets into our banking accounts in certain circumstances as set forth under the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act and the regulations thereunder.
As of December 31, 2018, the total balance of our money trusts was ￦47,412 billion (as calculated in accordance with Statement of Korea Accounting Standard No. 5004, Trust Accounts, and the Enforcement Regulations of Financial Investment Services under the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act, which we refer to as an “SKAS basis”). As for unspecified money trust accounts, we have investment discretion over all money trusts, which are pooled and managed jointly for each type of trust account. Specified money trust accounts are established on behalf of individual customers who direct our investment of trust assets.
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The following table shows the balances of our money trusts by type as of the dates indicated. Under IFRS, we consolidate trust accounts for which we guarantee both the repayment of the principal amount and a fixed rate of interest as well as trust accounts for which we guarantee only the repayment of the principal amount.
Principal and interest guaranteed trusts(1)
Principal guaranteed trusts(1)
Performance trusts(1)(2)
Calculated on an SKAS basis.
Trusts which are primarily non-guaranteed.
The balance of our money trusts increased 28.3% between December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2018. As of December 31, 2018, the trust assets we managed consisted principally of securities investments and loans from the trust accounts. As of December 31, 2018, on an SKAS basis, our trust accounts had invested in securities in the aggregate amount of ￦24,891 billion, of which ￦19,940 billion was debt securities and derivative-linked securities. Securities investments consist ofgovernment-related debt securities, corporate debt securities, including bonds and commercial paper, equity securities, derivative-linked securities and other securities. Loans made by our trust account operations are similar in type to the loans made by our bank account operations. As of December 31, 2018, on an SKAS basis, our trust accounts had made loans in the principal amount of ￦250 billion (excluding loans from the trust accounts to our banking accounts of ￦1,277 billion), which accounted for 0.5% of our money trust assets. Loans by our money trusts are subject to the same credit approval process as loans from our banking accounts. As of December 31, 2018, substantially all loans from our money trust accounts were collateralized or guaranteed.
Our money trust accounts also invest, to a lesser extent, in equity securities, including beneficiary certificates issued by financial investment companies with a collective investment license. On an SKAS basis, as of December 31, 2018, equity securities in our money trust accounts amounted to ￦4,951 billion, which accounted for 10.2% of our total money trust assets. Of this amount, ￦4,839 billion was from specified money trusts and ￦112 billion was from unspecified money trusts.
We continue to offer pension-type money trusts that provide a guarantee of the principal amount of the investment. On an SKAS basis, as of December 31, 2018, the balance of the money trusts for which we guaranteed the principal was ￦3,773 billion.
If the income from a money trust for which we provide a guarantee is less than the amount of the payments we have guaranteed, we will need to pay the amount of the shortfall with funds from special reserves maintained with respect to trust accounts followed by basic fees from that money trust and funds from our general banking operations. In 2016, 2017 and 2018, we made no payment from our banking accounts to cover shortfalls in our guaranteed trusts. On an SKAS basis, we derived trust fees with regard to trust account management services (including those fees related to property trust management services) of ￦174 billion in 2016, ￦293 billion in 2017 and ￦112 billion in 2018.
Property Trust Management Services
We also offer property trust management services, where we manage non-monetary assets in return for a fee. Non-monetary assets include mostly securities, but can also include other liquid receivables and real estate. Under these arrangements, we render custodial services for the property in question and collect fee income in return.
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In 2018, our basic property trust fees ranged from 0.1% to 0.3% of total assets under management depending on the type of trust accounts. On an SKAS basis, as of December 31, 2018, the aggregate balance of our property trusts decreased to ￦3,506 billion, compared to ￦7,769 billion as of December 31, 2017 and ￦6,862 billion as of December 31, 2016.
Under IFRS, the property trusts are not consolidated within our financial statements.
Investment Trust Management
Through KB Asset Management and KB Securities, we offer investment trust products to customers and manage the funds invested by them in investment trusts. As of December 31, 2018, KB Asset Management and KB Securities had an aggregate of ￦44,968 billion of investment trust assets under management.
Insurance
Non-Life Insurance
In June 2015, we acquired a 19.47% stake in KB Insurance Co., Ltd. (formerly named LIG Insurance Co., Ltd.), a publicly listed Korean non-life insurance company. In November 2015 and December 2016, we increased our shareholding in KB Insurance to 33.29% and 39.81%, respectively. Through a tender offer conducted in May 2017, we acquired 36,237,649 shares of KB Insurance at ￦33,000 per share, increasing our shareholding to 94.30%. We subsequently effected a comprehensive stock swap in July 2017 to acquire the remaining shares of KB Insurance in exchange for 2,170,943 shares of common stock of our company, as a result of which KB Insurance became a wholly-owned subsidiary. KB Insurance offers a variety of non-life insurance products, including principally the following:
Long-term insurance products. Long-term insurance products are sold to retail customers and provide protection against various types of losses, with specified coverage periods of at least three years and ranging up to 30 years or ending at specified ages. Unlike general property and casualty insurance products, which usually have a coverage period of one year or less and only have pure protection features, substantially all long-term insurance policies in Korea also have an integrated savings feature. KB Insurance offers a broad range of long-term insurance products covering the policyholder’s injuries, illnesses, long-term care, disabilities, accidents, property losses or other events.
Automobile insurance products. Automobile insurance products are sold to both retail and institutional customers and generally provide coverage for the following types of losses resulting from the policyholder’s ownership or use of an insured automobile: (i) liability to third parties for bodily injuries or death as well as damage to automobiles or other personal property; and (ii) the policyholder’s own bodily injuries and automobile damage or theft. KB Insurance’s automobile insurance policies typically have a coverage period of one year or less.
General property and casualty insurance products. General property and casualty insurance products are sold to institutional customers and include the following: (i) fire and allied lines insurance policies, providing protective coverage for damage to buildings and facilities and their contents against fire, flood, storm, lightening, explosion, theft and other risks; (ii) marine insurance policies, providing protective coverage for damage to marine vessels and their cargo; and (iii) specialty insurance policies, which cover various other types of specified risks faced by businesses, including liabilities and business interruption.
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The following table sets forth certain information regarding the operations of KB Insurance, on a standalone basis, as of the dates or for the periods indicated:
Total policies in force (in thousands)
Number of new policies sold (in thousands)
Gross direct written premiums(1)
Long-term insurance
Automobile insurance
General property and casualty insurance
Net earned premiums(2)
Loss ratio(3)
Risk-based capital adequacy ratio(4)
The amount of direct written premiums recognized in a specified period in respect of policies in force during such period, on a standalone basis.
The sum of (i) gross direct written premiums for the specified period, (ii) reinsurance premium income for such period, (iii) return of surrender refunds for such period and (iv) total unearned premiums deferred from the previous period, less the sum of (x) reinsurance expenses for the specified period, (y) surrender refunds for such period and (z) total unearned premiums deferred to the next period, on a standalone basis.
The ratio of (i) total claims paid for the specified period to (ii) net earned premiums for such period, on a standalone basis.
Calculated in accordance with the applicable requirements of the Financial Supervisory Service. See “—Regulation and Supervision—Principal Regulations Applicable to Insurance Companies—Capital Adequacy.”
KB Insurance operates a multi-channel distribution platform in Korea, comprising agencies (which are independent insurance brokerage companies), a network of financial consultants, bancassurance arrangements with commercial banks and other financial institutions, direct marketing channels (including home shopping television networks and the Internet) and a corporate sales force.
As of December 31, 2018, KB Insurance had ￦27,309 billion of general account investment assets on a standalone basis, of which domestic debt securities, loans, beneficiary certificates, domestic equity securities and overseas securities accounted for 36.1%, 25.3%, 11.3%, 1.4% and 16.0%, respectively.
Life Insurance
Through KB Life Insurance Co., Ltd., we offer a variety of individual and group life insurance products, including annuities, savings insurance, variable life insurance, whole life insurance and term life insurance as well as health insurance. KB Life Insurance utilizes its multi-channel distribution platform to market these products, which includes sales through agencies, financial consultants, telemarketers and bancassurance arrangements with commercial banks and other financial institutions.
KB Life Insurance generated gross premiums (not including separate account premiums) of ￦1,162 billion in 2016, ￦971 billion in 2017 and ￦877 billion in 2018 on a standalone basis. As of December 31, 2018, KB Life Insurance had ￦8,016 billion of general account investment assets on a standalone basis, of which domestic debt securities, beneficiary certificates, loans, domestic equity securities and overseas securities accounted for 54.3%, 13.1%, 12.6%, 0.3% and 6.4%, respectively. As of such date, KB Life Insurance’s risk-based capital adequacy ratio was 203.74%.
For further information regarding our insurance-related assets and liabilities, see Note 37 of the notes to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this annual report.
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Bancassurance
Through the bancassurance operations of Kookmin Bank, we offer insurance products of other institutions to retail customers in Korea. We currently market a wide range of bancassurance products and seek to generate additional fee-based revenues by expanding our offering of these products.
Currently, our bancassurance business has alliances with 21 life insurance companies (including our subsidiary, KB Life Insurance) and ten non-life insurance companies (including our subsidiary, KB Insurance) and offers 90 different products through our branch network. These products are composed of 59 types of life insurance policies, such as annuities, savings insurance and variable life insurance, and 31 types of non-life insurance products. In 2018, our commission income from our bancassurance business amounted to ￦46.7 billion.
Consumer Finance
We provide consumer finance services through KB Capital Co., Ltd. We acquired 52.02% of the outstanding shares of KB Capital (formerly known as Woori Financial Co., Ltd.) in March 2014 for ￦280 billion. We conducted a tender offer in May 2017, through which we acquired 5,949,300 shares of KB Capital at ￦27,500 per share, increasing our shareholding in KB Capital to 79.70%. We subsequently acquired the remaining outstanding shares of KB Capital in exchange for 2,269,057 shares of common stock of our company through a comprehensive stock swap effected in July 2017, as a result of which KB Capital became a wholly-owned subsidiary. KB Capital provides leasing services and installment finance services for various products, including automobiles, heavy machineries and medical equipment, as well as microlending services. We expect KB Capital to continue to expand our customer base by providing a variety of non-banking financial services to retail customers, as well as synergies through coordinated business operations with our other subsidiaries, including Kookmin Bank.
Management of the National Housing Urban Fund
The National Housing Urban Fund is a government fund that provides financial support to low-incomehouseholds in Korea by providing mortgage financing and construction loans for projects to build small-sized housing. The operations of the National Housing Urban Fund include providing and managing National Housing Urban Fund loans, issuing National Housing Urban Fund bonds and collecting subscription savings deposits.
In February 2013, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (formerly the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs) designated us as one of the managers of the National Housing Urban Fund. In 2018, we received total fees of ￦33 billion for managing the National Housing Urban Fund, compared to ￦32 billion in 2017 and ￦31 billion in 2016.
The financial accounting for the National Housing Urban Fund is entirely separate from our financial accounting, and the non-performing loans and loan losses of the National Housing Urban Fund, in general, do not impact our financial condition. Regulations and guidelines for managing the National Housing Urban Fund are issued by the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport pursuant to the Housing Act.
Distribution Channels
Banking Branch Network
As of December 31, 2018, Kookmin Bank operated a network of 1,057 branches andsub-branches in Korea, which was one of the largest branch networks among Korean commercial banks. An extensive branch network is important to attracting and maintaining retail customers, who use branches extensively and value convenience. We believe that our extensive branch network in Korea and retail customer base provide us with a source of stable and relatively low cost funding. Approximately 35.8% of our branches and sub-branches are located in
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Seoul, and approximately 23.6% of our branches are located in the six next largest cities. The following table presents the geographical distribution of our branch network in Korea as of December 31, 2018:
Area
Seoul
Six largest cities (other than Seoul)
In addition, we have continued to implement the specialization of our branch functions. Of our branch network as of December 31, 2018, we had three branches that primarily handled large corporate banking.
In order to support our branch network, we have established an extensive network of ATMs, which are located in branches and in unmanned outlets known as “autobanks.” As of December 31, 2018, we had 7,185 ATMs.
We have actively promoted the use of these distribution outlets in order to provide convenient service to customers, as well as to maximize the marketing and sales functions at the branch level, reduce employee costs and improve profitability. The aggregate number of transactions conducted using our ATMs amounted to approximately 505 million in 2016, 460 million in 2017 and 417 million in 2018.
Other Banking Channels
The following table sets forth information, for the periods indicated, on the number of users and transactions of the other banking channels for our retail and corporate banking customers, which are discussed below:
Internet banking:
Number of users(1)
Number of transactions (thousands)(2)
Phone banking:
Number of users(3)
Smartphone banking:
Number of users(4)
Number of users is defined as the total cumulative number of retail and corporate customers who have registered through our branch offices to use our Internet banking services.
Number of transactions includes balance and transaction inquiries, fund transfers and other transactions.
Number of users is defined as the total cumulative number of retail and corporate customers who have registered through our branch offices to use our phone banking services.
Number of users is defined as the total cumulative number of retail customers who have registered through our branch offices, or the customers’ smartphones, to use our smartphone banking services.
Internet Banking
Our goal is to consolidate our position as a market leader in online banking. Our Internet banking services currently include:
basic banking services, including fund transfers, balance and transaction inquiries, pre-set automatic transfers, product inquiries, online bill payments and foreign exchange services;
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investment services, including opening deposit accounts and investing in funds;
processing of loan applications;
electronic certification services, which permit our Internet banking service users to authenticate transactions on a confidential basis through digital signatures; and
wealth management and advisory services, including financial planning and real estate information services.
Phone Banking
We offer a variety of phone banking services, including inter-account fund transfers, balance and transaction inquiries, customer service inquiries and bill payments. We also have call centers, which we primarily use to:
advise clients with respect to deposits, loans and credit cards and to provide our customers a way to report any emergencies with respect to their accounts;
allow our customers to conduct transactions with respect to their accounts, such as balance and transfer inquiries, transfers or payments and opening accounts; and
conduct telemarketing to our customers or potential customers to advertise products or services.
Smartphone Banking
“KB Star Banking,” our mobile banking application for smartphones, allows our customers the flexibility to conduct a variety of financial transactions, including balance and transaction inquiries, fund transfers and asset management, anywhere at any time. Our smartphone banking services currently include:
basic banking services, including fund transfers, balance and transaction inquiries, bill payments and foreign exchange services;
investment services, including investing in savings deposits that are designed specifically for and offered to smartphone banking customers; and
processing of loan applications and bancassurance services.
We also continue to develop innovative mobile applications that cater to specific customer needs and lifestyles. For example, we offer “Liiv,” a mobile banking platform designed to make routine transactions easier for our customers, including providing easy access to banking services without the additional electronic certification process, foreign currency exchange services with lower fees and functions that allow customers to easily split bills and transfer money. Through “Liiv Talk Talk,” our mobile peer-to-peer payment and messaging application, we also allow our customers to perform routine banking tasks with voice commands and interactive messaging. We provide our customers with a number of other useful tools, such as “KB Star Alerts,” which are free text messages that contain real-time account activity information as well as security alerts, and “KB My Money,” a mobile application that allows customers to manage a wide range of assets deposited with various financial institutions.
Other Channels
We provide cash management services, which include automatic transfers, connection services to other financial institutions, real-time firm banking, automatic fund concentration and transmittal of trading information.
Distribution Channels for Other Services
Through our non-banking subsidiaries, we operate a network of dedicated branches and other distribution channels through which our customers can access credit card, securities brokerage, insurance and consumer
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finance products and services. The following table sets forth information regarding the number and geographical distribution of the branches in Korea operated by KB Kookmin Card, KB Securities and KB Insurance as of December 31, 2018:
KB Life Insurance and KB Capital also operate a number of branches in the Seoul area.
We also provide credit card, securities brokerage, insurance and consumer finance services through dedicated call centers, smartphone applications and Internet websites operated by KB Kookmin Card, KB Securities, KB Insurance, KB Life Insurance and KB Capital.
Competition
We compete principally with other financial holding companies and nationwide commercial banks, as well as regional banks, development banks, specialized banks and branches of foreign banks operating in Korea. We also compete with other types of financial institutions in Korea, including savings institutions (such as mutual savings and finance companies and credit unions and credit cooperatives), investment institutions (such as merchant banking corporations), life insurance companies, non-life insurance companies, securities companies and other financial investment companies.
Competition in the domestic banking industry is generally based on the types and quality of the products and services offered, including the size and location of retail networks, the level of automation and interest rates charged and paid. Competition has increased significantly in our traditional core businesses, retail banking, small- and medium-sized enterprise banking and credit card lending, contributing to some extent to the asset quality deterioration in retail and small- andmedium-sized loans. As a result, our margins on lending activities may decrease in the future.
Furthermore, the introduction of Internet-only banks in Korea is expected to increase competition in the Korean banking industry. Internet-only banks operate without branches and conduct most of their operations through electronic means, which enables them to minimize cost and offer customers higher interest rates on deposits or lower lending rates. In April 2017, K Bank, the first Internet-only bank in Korea, commenced operations. Kakao Bank, another Internet-only bank, in which we hold a 10% equity interest, commenced operations in July 2017.
In the Korean insurance industry, competition is based on a number of factors, including brand recognition, service, product features and pricing, investment performance and perceived financial strength. There has been downward pressure in recent years on margins of insurance products as some of our competitors have sought to obtain or maintain market share by reducing margins and increasing marketing efforts. As the Korean non-life insurance and life insurance sectors continue to mature, they may experience a slowdown in growth as well as a stagnation in market penetration. Due to these and other factors, we believe that competition in the Korean insurance industry will likely remain intense in the future.
In addition, general regulatory reforms in the Korean financial industry have increased competition among banks and other financial institutions in Korea. As the reform of the financial sector continues, foreign financial institutions, some with greater resources than us, have entered, and may continue to enter, the Korean market either by themselves or in partnership with existing Korean financial institutions and compete with us in providing financial and related services.
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Moreover, the Korean financial industry is undergoing significant consolidation. The number of nationwide commercial banks in Korea has decreased from 16 as of December 31, 1997, to eight as of December 31, 2018. A number of significant mergers and acquisitions in the financial industry have taken place in Korea in recent years, including Hana Financial Group’s acquisition of a controlling interest in Korea Exchange Bank in 2012 and the subsequent merger of Hana Bank into Korea Exchange Bank in 2015. In addition, as part of the Korean government’s plans to privatize Woori Finance Holdings Co., Ltd. (the former financial holding company of Woori Bank), certain subsidiaries of Woori Finance Holdings were sold to other financial institutions and Woori Finance Holdings itself was merged into Woori Bank in 2014, which established a new financial holding company, Woori Financial Group Inc., in January 2019. In the insurance sector, China’s Anbang Insurance Group acquired controlling interests in Tong Yang Life Insurance Co., Ltd. and Allianz Life Insurance Korea Co., Ltd. in 2015 and 2016, respectively, while Mirae Asset Life Insurance Co., Ltd. acquired PCA Life Insurance Co., Ltd. in 2017. In February 2019, Shinhan Financial Group acquired a 59% interest in Orange Life Insurance, Ltd. (formerly known as ING Life Insurance Korea, Ltd.). In the securities sector, in 2016, Mirae Asset Securities Co., Ltd. acquired a 43% interest in KDB Daewoo Securities Co., Ltd., which subsequently merged with and into Mirae Asset Securities to create Mirae Asset Daewoo Securities Co., Ltd., the largest securities company in Korea in terms of capital. We expect that consolidation in the Korean financial industry will continue. The financial institutions resulting from such consolidation may, by virtue of their increased size and business scope, provide significantly greater competition for us. We intend to review potential acquisition opportunities as they arise. We cannot guarantee that we will not be involved in any future mergers or acquisitions.
Information Technology
We regularly implement various IT system-related initiatives and upgrades at the group and subsidiary level. We believe that continuous improvement of our IT systems is crucial in supporting our operations and management and providing high-quality customer service. Accordingly, we continue to upgrade and improve our systems through various activities, including projects to develop next generation banking systems for Kookmin Bank, further strengthen system security and timely develop and implement various new IT systems and services (including group-wide software) that support our business operations and risk management activities.
Our mainframe-based banking and credit card IT systems are designed to ensure continuity of services even where there is a failure of the host data center due to a natural disaster or other accidents by utilizing backup systems in disaster recovery data centers. In addition, through the implementation of Parallel Sysplex, a “multi-CPU system,” our bank and credit card systems are designed and operated to be able to process transactions without material interruption in the event of CPU failure. In 2010, we launched a next-generation banking and credit card IT system that is designed to ensure greater reliability in financial transactions and allow more efficient development of new financial products. We also launched a new disaster recovery system to ensure continuity of operations. In addition, we implemented new technologies, including Multi Channel Integration and Enterprise Application Integration systems, to standardize our IT system and better manage IT system operational risk.
The integrity of our IT systems, and their ability to withstand potential catastrophic events (such as natural calamities and internal system failures), are crucial to our continuing operations. We currently test our disaster recovery systems on a quarterly basis. For additional information, see “Item 11. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk—Operational Risk Management.”
In 2018, we spent approximately ￦670 billion for our IT system implementation and operations, including expenses related to the construction of new IT systems, implementation of hardware and software technologies and other new systems, as well as related labor costs.
As of December 31, 2018, we employed a total of 1,152 full-time employees in our IT operations.
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Assets and Liabilities
The tables below set out selected financial highlights regarding our operations and our assets and liabilities. Except as otherwise indicated, amounts as of and for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 are presented on a consolidated basis under IFRS.
Loan Portfolio
As of December 31, 2018, our total loan portfolio was ￦321,811 billion compared to ￦292,233 billion as of December 31, 2017 and ￦267,764 billion as of December 31, 2016. As of December 31, 2018, 95.3% of our total loans were Won-denominated loans compared to 95.6% as of December 31, 2017 and 95.2% as of December 31, 2016.
Loan Types
The following table presents loans by type as of the dates indicated. Except where we specify otherwise, all loan amounts stated below are before deduction of allowances for loan losses. Total loans reflect our loan portfolio, including past due amounts.
Domestic:
Small- andmedium-sized enterprise
Large corporate(1)
Mortgage and home equity
Total domestic
Total gross loans
Large corporate loans include ￦191 billion, ￦248 billion, ￦285 billion, ￦222 billion and ￦199 billion of loans to the Korean government and government related agencies (including the Korea Deposit Insurance Corporation) as of December 31, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018, respectively.
Loan Concentrations
On a consolidated basis, our exposure to any single borrower or any single chaebol is limited by law to 20% and 25%, respectively, of our “net aggregate equity capital,” as defined under the Enforcement Decree of the Financial Holding Company Act. See “—Supervision and Regulation—Principal Regulations Applicable to Financial Holding Companies—Financial Exposure to Any Individual Customer and Major Investor.” In addition, Kookmin Bank’s exposure to any single borrower or any single chaebol is limited by the Bank Act to 20% and 25%, respectively, of its total Tier I and Tier II capital.
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20 Largest Exposures by Borrower
As of December 31, 2018, our 20 largest exposures totaled ￦15,073 billion and accounted for 3.4% of our total exposures. The following table sets forth, as of December 31, 2018, our total exposures to these top 20 borrowers or issuers:
Company(1)
The Korea Securities Finance Corporation.
Mirae Asset Daewoo Co., Ltd.
LG Display Co., Ltd.
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
KEB Hana Bank
Hyundai Motor Company
Hyundai Capital Services Inc.
Hyundai-Steel Co., Ltd.
SK
Samsung Securities Co., Ltd.
NH Investment & Securities Co., Ltd.
Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd.
Lotte Corporation
LG Electronics Inc.
S-Oil Corp.
Nonghyup Bank
Kiwoom Securities Co., Ltd.
Hana Financial Investment Co., Ltd.
Kia Motors Corp.
Hi Investment & Securities Co., Ltd.
Excludes exposures to government-owned or-controlled enterprises or financial institutions, including Bank of Korea, Korea Housing Finance Corporation, Korea Land & Housing Corporation, Korea Deposit Insurance Corporation and Korea Development Bank.
As of December 31, 2018, 12 of these top 20 borrowers or issuers were companies belonging to the 31 largest highly-indebted business groups among chaebols in Korea designated as such by the Financial Supervisory Service based on their outstanding exposures.
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Exposure to Chaebols
As of December 31, 2018, 5.9% of our total exposure was to the 31 largest highly-indebted business groups among chaebols in Korea designated as such by the Financial Supervisory Service based on their outstanding exposures. The following table shows, as of December 31, 2018, our total exposures to the ten chaebol groups to which we have the largest exposure:
Chaebol
Hyundai Motor(1)
Samsung(2)
SK(3)
Lotte(4)
LG(5)
Hanwha(6)
Hyundai Heavy Industries(7)
GS(8)
POSCO(9)
Shinsegae(10)
Includes principally Hyundai Capital Services Inc., Hyundai Steel Company and Hyundai Motor.
Includes principally Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Samsung Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. and Samsung Card Co., Ltd.
Includes principally SK Holdings Co., Ltd., SK Shipping Co., Ltd. and SK Networks Company Limited.
Includes principally Lotte Capital Co., Ltd., Lotte Engineering & Construction Co., Ltd and Hotel Lotte Co., Ltd.
Includes principally LG Electronics Inc., LG Chem, Ltd. and LG International Corp.
Includes principally Hanwha Corp, Hanwha Techwin Co., Ltd and Hanwha E&C.
Includes principally Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd, Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. and Hyundai Mipo Dockyard Co., Ltd.
Includes principally GS Engineering & Construction Co., Ltd., GS Retail Co., Ltd and GS Energy Corporation.
Includes principally POSCO International Corporation, POSCO and POSCO Energy Corporation.
Includes principally Shinsegae Co., Ltd., E-MART Inc. and Shinsegae Simon Inc.
Loan Concentration by Industry
The following table presents the aggregate balance of our domestic and foreign corporate loans, by industry concentration, as of December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018:
Industry
Services
Manufacturing
Wholesale and retail
Financial institutions
Construction
Public sector
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Maturity Analysis
We typically roll over our working capital loans and unsecured consumer loans (other than those payable in installments) after we conduct our normal loan review in accordance with our loan review procedures. Working capital loans may generally be extended on an annual basis for an aggregate term of five years and unsecured consumer loans may generally be extended for another term of up to 12 months for an aggregate term of 10 years.
The following table sets out the scheduled maturities (time remaining until maturity) of our loan portfolio as of December 31, 2018. The amounts disclosed are before deduction of allowances for loan losses:
Small- andmedium-sized enterprises
Large corporate
Total corporate
Foreign:
Interest Rate Sensitivity
The following table shows, as of December 31, 2018, the total amount of loans due after one year, which have fixed interest rates and variable or adjustable interest rates:
Fixed rate(1)
Variable or adjustable rates(2)
Fixed rate loans are loans for which the interest rate is fixed for the entire term.
Variable or adjustable rate loans are loans for which the interest rate is not fixed for the entire term.
For additional information regarding our management of interest rate risk, see “Item 11. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk—Market Risk Management—Market Risk Management for Non-Trading Activities.”
Credit Exposures to Companies in Workout, Restructuring or Rehabilitation
Workout is a voluntary procedure through which we, together with the borrower and other creditors, seek to restore the borrower’s financial stability and viability. Previously, workouts were regulated under a series of
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Corporate Restructuring Promotion Acts, which last expired on June 30, 2018. In September 2018, the National Assembly of Korea adopted a new Corporate Restructuring Promotion Act, which became effective in October 2018 and is scheduled to expire in October 2023. Under the new Corporate Restructuring Promotion Act, creditors of a financially troubled borrower may participate in a creditors’ committee, which is authorized to prohibit such creditors from exercising their rights against the borrower, commence workout procedures and approve or make revisions to a reorganization plan prepared by the lead creditor bank, the borrower and external experts. The composition of the creditors’ committee is determined at the initial meeting of the committee by the approval of creditors holding not less than 75% of the borrower’s total outstanding debt held by creditors who were notified of the initial meeting of the committee. Although creditors that are not financial institutions or hold less than 1% of the total outstanding debt of the borrower need not be notified of the initial meeting of the creditors’ committee, if such creditors wish to participate, they may not be excluded. Any decision of the creditors’ committee requires the approval of creditors holding not less than 75% of the total outstanding debt of the borrower. However, if a single creditor holds 75% or more of the borrower’s total outstanding debt held by the creditors comprising the creditors’ committee, any decision of the creditors’ committee requires the approval of not less than 40% of the total number of creditors (including such single creditor) comprising the committee. An additional approval of creditors holding not less than 75% of the secured debt is required with respect to the borrower’s debt restructuring. Once approved, any decision made by the creditors’ committee is binding on all creditors of the borrower, with the exception of those creditors that were excluded by a resolution of the committee at its initial meeting and those who exercised their right to request that their claims be purchased. Creditors that voted against commencement of workout, approval or revision of the reorganization plan, debt restructuring, granting of new credit, extension of the joint management process or other resolutions of the committee have the right to request the creditors that voted in favor of such matters to purchase their claims at a mutually agreed price. In the event that the parties are not able to agree on the terms of purchase, a coordination committee consisting of experts would determine the terms. The creditors that oppose a decision made by the coordination committee may request a court to change such decision.
Upon approval of the workout plan, a credit exposure is initially classified as precautionary or lower and thereafter cannot be classified higher than precautionary with limited exceptions. If a corporate borrower is in workout, restructuring or rehabilitation, we take the status of the borrower into account in valuing our loans to and collateral from that borrower for purposes of establishing our allowances for credit losses.
Korean law also provides for corporate rehabilitation proceedings, which are court-supervised procedures to rehabilitate an insolvent company. Under these procedures, a restructuring plan is adopted at a meeting of interested parties, including creditors of the company. Such restructuring plan is subject to court approval.
A portion of our loans to and debt securities of corporate customers are currently in workout, restructuring or rehabilitation. As of December 31, 2018, ￦452 billion or 0.1% of our total loans were in workout, restructuring or rehabilitation. This included ￦150 billion of loans to large corporate borrowers and ￦302 billion of loans to small- and medium-sized enterprises.
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The following table shows, as of December 31, 2018, our ten largest credit exposures that were in workout, restructuring or rehabilitation:
Company
Dongmoon Construction Co., Ltd.
Orient Shipyard Co., Ltd.
Dongil Construction LTD
Korea Development Corporation
TRANS-PACIFIC RESOURCES LTD
Dreample Co., Ltd.
Ubcell Co., Ltd.
Woojeon Co., Ltd
Enersolar Co., Ltd.
JM ADVANCED MATERIALS
Provisioning Policy
Under IFRS 9 Financial Instruments, which replaced IAS 39, for annual periods commencing on or after January 1, 2018, we establish allowances for credit losses based on expected credit losses instead of incurred losses (as was the case under IAS 39) by assessing changes in expected credit losses and recognizing such changes as impairment loss (or reversal of impairment loss) in profit or loss. See “Item 5.A. Operating Results—Overview—Changes in Accounting Policies.” Under IFRS 9, the allowance required to be established with respect to a loan or receivable is the amount of the expected 12-month credit loss or the expected lifetime credit loss for the applicable loan or receivable, according to three stages of credit risk deterioration since initial recognition.
We establish allowances for loan losses with respect to loans to absorb such losses. For financial reporting periods starting prior to January 1, 2018, under IAS 39 Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement, we assessed individually significant loans on a case-by-case basis and other loans on a collective basis. In addition, if we determined that no objective evidence of impairment existed for a loan, we included such loan in a group of loans with similar credit risk characteristics and assessed them collectively for impairment regardless of whether such loan was significant. For individually significant loans, allowances for loan losses were recorded if objective evidence of impairment existed as a result of one or more events that occurred after initial recognition. For collectively assessed loans, we based the level of allowances for loan losses on our evaluation of the risk characteristics of such loans, taking into account such factors as historical loss experience, the financial condition of the borrowers and current economic conditions.
If additions or changes to the allowances for loan losses are required, then we record a provision for loan losses, which is included in impairment losses on credit loss and treated as a charge against current income. Credit exposures that we deem to be uncollectible, including actual loan losses, net of recoveries of previously charged-off amounts, are charged directly against the allowances for loan losses. See “Item 5.A. Operating Results—Critical Accounting Policies—Impairment of Loans and Allowances for Loan Losses.”
We generally consider the following loans to be impaired loans:
loans that are past due by 90 days or more;
loans that are subject to legal proceedings related to collection;
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loans to a borrower that has received a warning from the Korea Credit Information Services indicating that such borrower has exhibited difficulties in making timely payments of principal and interest;
loans to corporate borrowers that are rated C or D according to Kookmin Bank’s internal credit ratings for large companies or small-and medium-sized enterprises;
loans for which account-specific provisions have been made resulting from a significant perceived decline in credit quality; and
loans with respect to which the amount of principal and interest payable has been materially decreased due to restructuring.
We regularly evaluate the adequacy of the overall allowances for loan losses and we believe that the allowances for loan losses reflect our best estimate of probable loan losses as of each balance sheet date.
Loan Aging Schedule
The following table shows our loan aging schedule (excluding accrued interest) as of the dates indicated:
As of December 31,
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
Non-Accrual Loans and Past Due Accruing Loans
We generally consider impaired loans to be non-accrual loans. However, we exclude from non-accrual status and continue to accrue interest on loans that are fully secured by cash on deposit or on which there are financial guarantees from the government, Korea Deposit Insurance Corporation or certain financial institutions.
We generally recognize interest income on non-accrual loans using the interest rate used to discount the future cash flows of such loans for purposes of measuring impairment loss, as well as upon receipt of cash interest payments. We reclassify loans as accruing when interest and principal payments are up-to-date and future payments of principal and interest are reasonably assured.
Interest foregone is the interest due on non-accrual loans that has not been accrued in our books of account. The table below shows, for the years indicated, the amount of gross interest income that we would have recorded on loans accounted for on a non-accrual basis throughout the year, or since origination for loans held for part of the year, had we not foregone interest on those loans, as well as the amount of interest income on those loans that was included in our profit for the year.
Gross interest income that would have been recorded
Interest income included in profit for the year
The following table shows, as of the dates indicated, the amount of loans that were placed on a non-accrual basis and accruing loans which were past due 90 days or more. The category “accruing but past due 90 days”
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includes loans which are still accruing interest but on which principal or interest payments are contractually past due 90 days or more.
Loans accounted for on a non-accrual basis
Consumer
Sub-total
Accruing loans which are contractually past due 90 days or more as to principal or interest
Troubled Debt Restructurings
The following table presents, as of the dates indicated, our loans that are “troubled debt restructurings” for which we, for economic or legal reasons relating to the debtor’s financial difficulties, grant a concession to the debtor that we would not otherwise consider. These loans consist principally of corporate loans that have been restructured (through the process of workout, court receivership or composition) and which are accruing interest at rates lower than the original contractual terms as a result of a variation of terms upon restructuring.
Loans classified as “troubled debt restructurings”
For 2018, interest income that would have been recorded under the original contract terms of restructured loans amounted to ￦12 billion, out of which ￦7 billion was reflected as interest income during 2018.
Potential Problem Loans
We classify potential problem loans as loans that are designated as “early warning loans” and reported to the Financial Services Commission. “Early warning loans” are loans extended to borrowers that have been (i) identified by our early warning system as exhibiting signs of credit risk based on the relevant borrower’s financial data, credit information and/or transactions with banks and, following such identification and (ii) designated by our loan officers as potential problem borrowers based on their evaluation of known information about such borrowers’ possible credit problems. Such loans are required to be reported on a quarterly basis to the Financial Services Commission. If a borrower’s loans are designated as “early warning loans” pursuant to the process described above and included in our quarterly report to the Financial Services Commission, we consider such borrowers to have serious doubt as to their ability to comply with repayment terms in the near future.
As of December 31, 2018, we had ￦670 billion of potential problem loans.
Other Problematic Interest Earning Assets
We have certain other interest earning assets received in connection with troubled debt restructurings that, if they were loans, would be required to be disclosed as part of the non-accrual, past due or restructuring or
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potential problem loan disclosures provided above. As of December 31, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018, we did not have any debt securities received in connection with troubled debt restructurings on which interest was past due.
Non-Performing Loans
Non-performing loans are defined as loans that are past due by 90 days or more. These loans are generally classified as “substandard” or below. For further information on the classification of non-performing loans under Korean regulatory requirements, see “—Regulatory Reserve for Credit Losses” below.
The following table shows, as of the dates indicated, certain details of our total non-performing loan portfolio:
Total non-performing loans
As a percentage of total loans
Analysis of Non-Performing Loans
The following table sets forth, as of the dates indicated, our total non-performing loans by type of borrower:
Small- and medium sized enterprise
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Top 20 Non-Performing Loans
As of December 31, 2018, our 20 largest non-performing loans accounted for 22.3% of our total non-performing loan portfolio. The following table shows, as of December 31, 2018, certain information regarding our 20 largest non-performing loans:
Borrower A
Borrower B
Borrower C
Borrower D
Borrower E
Borrower F
Borrower G
Borrower H
Borrower I
Borrower J
Borrower K
Borrower L
Borrower M
Borrower N
Borrower O
Borrower P
Borrower Q
Borrower R
Borrower S
Borrower T
If the estimated recovery value of collateral for a non-performing loan is sufficient compared to the outstanding loan balance, we record no allowances for loan losses for such non-performing loan.
Non-Performing Loan Strategy
One of our primary objectives is to prevent our loans from becoming non-performing. Through our corporate credit rating systems, we believe that we have reduced our risks relating to future non-performing loans. Our credit rating systems are designed to prevent our loan officers from extending new loans to borrowers with high credit risks based on the borrower’s credit rating. Our early warning system is designed to bring any sudden increase in a borrower’s credit risk to the attention of our loan officers, who then closely monitor such loans. See “Item 11. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk—Credit Risk Management—Credit Review and Monitoring.”
Notwithstanding the above, if a loan becomes non-performing, an officer at the branch level responsible for monitoring non-performing loans will commence a due diligence review of the borrower’s assets, send a notice either demanding payment or stating that we will take legal action and prepare for legal action.
At the same time, we also initiate our non-performing loan management process, which begins with:
identifying loans subject to a proposed sale by assessing the estimated losses from such sale based on the estimated recovery value of collateral, if any, for such non-performing loans;
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identifying loans subject to charge-off based on the estimated recovery value of collateral, if any, for such non-performing loans and the estimated rate of recovery of unsecured loans; and
on a limited basis, identifying corporate loans subject to normalization efforts based on the cash-flow situation of the borrower.
Once the details of a non-performing loan are identified, we pursue early solutions for recovery. While the overall process is the responsibility of Kookmin Bank’s Credit Division, actual recovery efforts on non-performing loans are handled at the operating branch level.
In addition, we use the services of ourwholly-owned loan collection subsidiary, KB Credit Information Co., Ltd., which receives payments from recoveries made on charged-off loans and certain loans that are overdue for over three months (28 days on average in the case of credit card loans). KB Credit Information has approximately 140 employees, including legal experts and management employees. The fees that it receives are based on the amounts of non-performing and charged off loans that are recovered. In 2016, 2017 and 2018, the amount recovered was ￦404 billion, ￦313 billion and ￦324 billion, respectively.
Methods for resolving non-performing loans include the following:
non-performing loans are managed by the operating branches of Kookmin Bank until such loans are charged off;
a demand note is dispatched by mail if payment is generally one month past due;
calls and visits are made by Kookmin Bank’s operating branches to customers encouraging them to make payments;
borrowers who are past due on payments of interest and principal are registered on the Korea Credit Information Services’ database of non-performing loans;
for unsecured loans other than credit card loans, the loans are transferred to KB Credit Information for collection on a case-by-case basis;
for secured loans, actions to enforce or protect the security interests (including foreclosure and auction of the collateral) are commenced within five months of such loans becoming past due; and
charged off loans are given to KB Credit Information for collection, except for loans where the cost of collection exceeds the possible recovery or where the statute of limitations for collection has expired.
In addition, credit card loans that are in arrears for over 28 days on average are transferred to KB Credit Information for collection.
If a loan becomes non-performing, it is managed by an operating branch of Kookmin Bank until such loan is charged off. However, in order to promote speedy recovery on loans subject to foreclosures and litigation, our policy is to permit the branch responsible for handling these loans to request one of Kookmin Bank’s regional head offices for assistance with litigation proceedings and proceedings related to foreclosure and auction of the collateral.
In addition to making efforts to collect on these non-performing loans, we also undertake measures to reduce the level of our non-performing loans, which include:
selling our non-performing loans to third parties, including the Korea Asset Management Corporation; and
entering into asset securitization transactions with respect to ournon-performing loans.
We generally expect to suffer a partial loss on loans that we sell or securitize, to the extent such sales and securitizations are recognized under IFRS as sale transactions.
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Allocation and Analysis of Allowances for Loan Losses
The following table presents, as of the dates indicated, the allocation of our allowances for loan losses by loan type. The ratio represents the percentage of allowances for loan losses in each category to total allowances for loan losses.
Foreign:(1)
Consists primarily of loans to corporations.
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The following tables analyze our allowances for loan losses and loan loss experience for each of the years indicated:
Balance at the beginning of the period
Amounts charged against income
Sale
Gross charge-offs:
Total gross charge-offs
Recoveries:
Small-andmedium-sized enterprise
Total recoveries
Net charge-offs
Other charges(1)
Balance at the end of the period
Ratio of net charge-offs during the period to average loans outstanding during the period
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Balance at the beginning of the period(2)
Stage transference:
Transfer to 12-month expected credit losses
Transfer to lifetime expected credit losses(non-impaired)
Transfer to lifetime expected credit losses (impaired)
Other charges
The amount for 2014 reflects an increase in allowances for loan losses of ￦83 billion attributable to the addition of KB Capital as a consolidated subsidiary in March 2014. The amount for 2016 reflects an increase in allowances for loan losses of ￦136 billion attributable to the addition of KB Securities as a consolidated subsidiary in October 2016. The amount for 2017 reflects an increase in allowance for loan losses of ￦60 billion attributable to the addition of KB Insurance as a consolidated subsidiary in May 2017.
Reflects a one-off increase in our allowance for loan losses (as compared to the balance as of December 31, 2017) due to the application of IFRS 9. See Notes 2.1 and 45 of the notes to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this annual report.
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Regulatory Reserve for Credit Losses
If our allowances for credit losses are deemed insufficient for regulatory purposes, we are required to compensate for the difference by recording a regulatory reserve for credit losses, which is segregated within our retained earnings. Regulatory reserve for credit losses are not available for distribution to shareholders as dividends. The level of regulatory reserve for credit losses required to be recorded is equal to the amount by which our allowances for credit losses under IFRS are less than the greater of (x) the amount of expected loss calculated using the internalratings-based approach under Basel III and as approved by the Financial Supervisory Service and (y) the required amount of credit loss reserve calculated based on standards prescribed by the Financial Services Commission. As of December 31, 2018, our regulatory reserve for credit losses was ￦3,131 billion.
The following tables set forth the Financial Services Commission’s guidelines for the classification of loans and the minimum percentages of the outstanding principal amount of the relevant loans or balances that the credit loss reserve must cover:
Loan Classification
Loan Characteristics
Normal
Precautionary
Substandard
(i) Loans extended to customers that, based on our consideration of their business, financial position and future cash flows, are judged to have incurred considerable default risks as their ability to repay has deteriorated; or
(ii) the portion that we expect to collect of total loans (a) extended to customers that have been in arrears for three months or more, (b) extended to customers that have incurred serious default risks due to the occurrence of, among other things, final refusal to pay their debt instruments, entry into liquidation or bankruptcy proceedings or closure of their businesses, or (c) extended to customers who have outstanding loans that are classified as “doubtful” or “estimated loss.”
Doubtful
Loans exceeding the amount that we expect to collect of total loans to customers that:
(i) based on our consideration of their business, financial position and future cash flows, have incurred serious default risks due to noticeable deterioration in their ability to repay; or
(ii) have been in arrears for three months or more but less than six months (or three months or more but less than 12 months in the case of loans of Kookmin Bank).
(i) based on our consideration of their business, financial position and future cash flows, are judged to be accounted as a loss because the inability to repay became certain due to serious deterioration in their ability to repay;
(ii) have been in arrears for six months or more (or 12 months or more in the case of loans of Kookmin Bank); or
(iii) have incurred serious risks of default in repayment due to the occurrence of, among other things, final refusal to pay their debt instruments, liquidation or bankruptcy proceedings or closure of their business.
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Loan Classifications
Estimated loss
Subject to certain exceptions pursuant to the Banking Industry Supervision Regulations of Korea.
Applicable for credit card balances from general purchases.
Applicable for cash advances, card loans and revolving credit card assets.
Loan Charge-Offs
Basic Principles
We attempt to minimize loans to be charged off by adhering to a sound credit approval process based on credit risk analysis prior to extending loans and a systematic management of outstanding loans. However, ifcharge-offs are necessary, we charge off loans subject to our charge-off policy at an early stage in order to maximize accounting transparency, to minimize any waste of resources in managing loans which have a low probability of being collected and to reduce our non-performing loan ratio.
Loans To Be Charged Off
Loans are charged off if they are deemed to be uncollectible by falling under any of the following categories:
loans for which collection is not foreseeable due to insolvency, bankruptcy, compulsory execution, disorganization, dissolution or the shutting down of the business of the debtor;
loans for which collection is not foreseeable due to the death or disappearance of the debtor;
loans for which expenses of collection exceed the collectable amount;
loans on which collection is not possible through legal or any other means;
payments in arrears in respect of credit cards that have been overdue for a period of six months or more and have been classified as expected loss (excluding instances where there has been partial payment of the overdue balance, where a related balance is not overdue or where a charge off is not possible due to Korean regulations); and
the portion of loans classified as “estimated loss,” net of any recovery from collateral, which is deemed to be uncollectible.
Procedure for Charge-off Approval
In order to charge off corporate loans, an application for a charge-off must be submitted to Kookmin Bank’s Credit Management Department promptly after the corporate loan is classified as estimated loss or deemed uncollectible. The Credit Management Department refers the charge-off application to Kookmin Bank’s Audit Department for their review to ensure compliance with our internal procedures for charge-offs. Then, the Credit Management Department, after reviewing the application to confirm that it meets relevant requirements, seeks an approval from the Financial Supervisory Service for our charge-offs, which is typically granted. Once we receive approval from the Financial Supervisory Service, we must also obtain approval from our senior management to charge off those loans.
With respect to credit card balances and unsecured retail loans, we follow a different process to determine which credit card balances and unsecured retail loans should be charged off, based on the length of time those
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loans or balances are past due. We charge off unsecured retail loans deemed to be uncollectible and credit card balances which have been overdue for a period of six months or more or which have been deemed to be uncollectible under IFRS.
Treatment of Loans Charged Off
Once loans are charged off, we classify them as charged-off loans and remove them from our balance sheet. These loans are managed based on a different set of procedures. We continue our collection efforts in respect of these loans, including through our subsidiary, KB Credit Information, although loans may be charged off before we begin collection efforts in some circumstances.
If a collateralized loan is overdue, we will, typically within one year from the time that such loan became overdue (or after a longer period in certain circumstances), petition a court to foreclose and sell the collateral through a court-supervised auction. If a debtor ultimately fails to repay and the court grants its approval for foreclosure, we will sell the collateral, net of expenses incurred from the auction.
Investment Portfolio
Investment Policy
We invest in and trade Won-denominated and, to a lesser extent, foreign currency-denominated securities for our own account to:
maintain the stability and diversification of our assets;
maintain adequate sources of back-up liquidity to match our funding requirements; and
supplement income from our core lending activities.
We also invest in and trade such securities as part of the general account investments of our insurance subsidiaries that support their insurance policy liabilities. In making securities investments, we take into account a number of factors, including macroeconomic trends, industry analysis, credit evaluation and maturity in determining whether to make particular investments in securities.
Our investments in securities are also subject to a number of guidelines, including limitations prescribed under the Financial Holding Company Act and the Bank Act. Under these regulations, a bank holding company may not own (i) more than 5% of the total issued and outstanding shares of another finance-related company, (ii) any shares of its affiliates, other than its direct or indirect subsidiaries or (iii) any shares of a non-finance-related company. In addition, Kookmin Bank must limit its investments in equity securities and bonds with a maturity in excess of three years (other than monetary stabilization bonds issued by the Bank of Korea and national government bonds) to 100.0% of its total Tier I and Tier II capital amount (less any capital deductions). Generally, Kookmin Bank is also prohibited from acquiring more than 15.0% of the shares with voting rights issued by any other corporation subject to certain exceptions. Pursuant to the Bank Act, a bank and its trust accounts are prohibited from acquiring the shares of a major shareholder (for the definition of “major shareholder,” see “—Supervision and Regulation—Principal Regulations Applicable to Banks—Financial Exposure to Any Individual Customer and Major Shareholder”) of that bank in excess of an amount equal to 1% of the sum of the bank’s Tier I and Tier II capital (less any capital deductions). Further information on the regulatory environment governing our investment activities is set out in “—Supervision and Regulation—Principal Regulations Applicable to Financial Holding Companies—Liquidity,” “—Supervision and Regulation—Principal Regulations Applicable to Financial Holding Companies—Restrictions on Shareholdings in Other Companies,” “—Supervision and Regulation—Principal Regulations Applicable to Banks—Liquidity” and “—Supervision and Regulation—Principal Regulations Applicable to Banks—Restrictions on Shareholdings in Other Companies.”
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The following table sets out the definitions of the three categories of securities we hold:
Category
Classification
Debt instruments held with a business model whose objective is achieved by both collecting contractual cash flows and selling financial assets, and are consistent with representing solely payments of principal and interest on the principal amount outstanding; or
Equity instruments not held for trading with the objective of generating a profit from short-term fluctuations in price or dealers’ margin, designated as financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income.
See “Item 5.A. Operating Results—Critical Accounting Policies—Valuation of Securities and Financial Instruments.”
We also hold limited balances of venture capital securities,non-marketable and restricted equity securities and derivative instruments.
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Carrying Amount and Market Value
The following tables set out the carrying amount and market value of securities in our securities portfolio as of the dates indicated:
Korean treasury securities and government agency securities
Debt securities issued by financial institutions
Corporate debt securities
Asset-backed securities
Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss:
Financial assets designated at fair value through profit or loss(1)
Derivative-linked securities
Total financial assets at fair value through profit or loss
Total securities
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Stocks
Equity investments
Other equity securities
Puttable instruments (investment funds, etc.)
Derivative linked securities
Effective as of January 1, 2018, financial assets designated at fair value through profit or loss have been reclassified as financial assets at fair value through profit or loss, without the option for designation of fair value, pursuant to the application of IFRS 9. See Notes 2.1 and 42 of the notes to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this annual report.
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The following table categorizes our debt securities by maturity and weighted average yield as of December 31, 2018:
Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss:(2)
The weighted average yield for the portfolio represents the yield to maturity for each individual security, weighted using its carrying amount (which is the amortized cost in the case of financial assets at amortized cost and the fair value in the case of financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income and financial assets at fair value through profit or loss).
Excludes securities with no maturities, such as puttable instruments or derivative linked securities.
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Concentrations of Risk
As of December 31, 2018, we held the following securities of individual issuers where the aggregate carrying amount of those securities exceeded 10% of our stockholders’ equity at such date. As of December 31, 2018, our stockholders’ equity was ￦35,704 billion.
Name of issuer:
Korean government
Bank of Korea
Korea Development Bank
Korea Housing Finance Corporation
Industrial Bank of Korea
The Korea Housing Finance Corporation is owned by the Korean government and the Bank of Korea. The Bank of Korea and Industrial Bank of Korea are controlled by the Korean government, whereas the Korea Development Bank is wholly-owned by the Korean government.
Funding
We obtain funding for our lending activities from a variety of sources, both domestic and foreign. Our principal source of funding is customer deposits. In addition, we acquire funding through long-term borrowings (comprising debentures and debts), short-term borrowings, including borrowings from the Bank of Korea, and call money.
Our primary funding strategy has been to achieve low-cost funding by increasing the average balances of low-cost retail deposits, in particular demand deposits and time deposits. We also have focused our marketing efforts on higher net worth individuals, who account for a significant portion of the assets in our retail deposit base. Customer deposits accounted for 79.7% of total funding as of December 31, 2016, 77.6% of total funding as of December 31, 2017 and 76.2% of total funding as of December 31, 2018.
Our borrowings consist of issuances of debentures and debt from financial institutions, the Korean government and government-affiliated funds. The majority of our debt is long-term, with maturities ranging from one year to 30 years.
Although the majority of our deposits are short-term, it has been our experience that the majority of our depositors generally roll over their deposits at maturity, providing us with a stable source of funding.
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The following table shows the average balances of our deposits and the average rates paid on our deposits for the periods indicated:
Demand deposits:
Non-interest bearing
Interest bearing
Average total deposits
For a description of our retail deposit products, see “—Business—Retail Banking—Deposit-Taking Activities.”
Time Deposits and Certificates of Deposit
The following table presents the remaining maturities of our time deposits and certificates of deposit which had a fixed maturity in excess of ￦100 million as of December 31, 2018:
Maturing within three months
After three but within six months
After six but within 12 months
After 12 months
Long-term borrowings
The aggregate amount of contractual maturities of all long-term borrowings (comprising debentures and debt) as of December 31, 2018 was as follows:
Due in 2019
Due in 2020
Due in 2021
Due in 2022
Due in 2023
Thereafter
Gross long-term borrowings
Fair value adjustments
Deferred financing costs
Discount
Total long-term borrowings, net
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Short-term borrowings
The following table presents information regarding our short-term borrowings (borrowings with an original maturity of one year or less) for the periods indicated:
Call money:
Year-end balance
Average balance(1)
Maximum balance(2)
Average interest rate(3)
Year-end interest rate
Borrowings from the Bank of Korea:(4)
Other short-term borrowings:(5)
Maximum balances are based on month-end balances.
Average interest rates for the year are calculated by dividing the total interest expense by the average amount borrowed.
Borrowings from the Bank of Korea generally mature within one month for borrowings in Won and six months for borrowings in foreign currencies. These short-term borrowings were secured by securities totaling ￦1,961 billion as of December 31, 2018.
Other short-term borrowings include securities sold under repurchase agreement, bills sold, borrowings and debentures. Other short-term borrowings have maturities of one year or less. Securities sold under repurchase agreements were secured by securities totaling ￦9,211 billion as of December 31, 2018.
Supervision and Regulation
Principal Regulations Applicable to Financial Holding Companies
General
The Financial Holding Company Act, last amended on December 31, 2018, regulates Korean financial holding companies and their subsidiaries. The entities that regulate and supervise Korean financial holding companies and their subsidiaries are the Financial Services Commission and the Financial Supervisory Service.
The Financial Services Commission exerts direct control over financial holding companies pursuant to the Financial Holding Company Act. Among other things, the Financial Services Commission approves the establishment of financial holding companies, issues regulations on the capital adequacy of financial holding companies and their subsidiaries, and drafts regulations relating to the supervision of financial holding companies.
Following the instructions and directives of the Financial Services Commission, the Financial Supervisory Service supervises and examines financial holding companies and their subsidiaries. In particular, the Financial Supervisory Service sets requirements relating to Korean financial holding companies’ liquidity and capital
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adequacy ratios and establishes reporting requirements within the authority delegated under the Financial Services Commission regulations. Financial holding companies must submit quarterly reports to the Financial Supervisory Service discussing business performance, financial status and other matters identified in the Enforcement Decree of the Financial Holding Company Act.
Under the Financial Holding Company Act, a financial holding company is a company which primarily engages in controlling its subsidiaries by holding equity stakes in them equal in aggregate to at least 50% of the financial holding company’s aggregate assets based on its balance sheet as of the end of the immediately preceding fiscal year. A company is required to obtain approval from the Financial Services Commission to become a financial holding company.
A financial holding company may engage only in controlling the management of its subsidiaries, as well as certain ancillary activities including:
financially supporting its direct and indirect subsidiaries;
raising capital necessary for investment in its subsidiaries or providing financial support to its direct and indirect subsidiaries;
supporting the business of its direct and indirect subsidiaries, including the development and marketing of financial products;
providing data processing, legal, accounting and other resources and services that have been commissioned by its direct and indirect subsidiaries so as to support their operations; and
any other businesses exempted from authorization, permission or approval under the applicable laws and regulations.
The Financial Holding Company Act requires every financial holding company (other than a financial holding company that is controlled by another financial holding company) and its subsidiaries to obtain prior approval from the Financial Services Commission before acquiring control of another company or to file a report with the Financial Services Commission within 30 days thereafter in certain cases (including acquiring control of another company whose assets are less than ￦100 billion as of the end of the immediately preceding fiscal year). In addition, the Financial Services Commission must grant permission to liquidate or to merge with any other company before the liquidation or merger. A financial holding company must report to the Financial Services Commission when certain events, including the following, occur:
when the largest shareholder changes;
in the case of a bank holding company, when a major investor changes;
when the shareholding of the controlling shareholder (i.e., the “largest shareholder” or a “principal shareholder,” each as defined in the Financial Holding Company Act) or a person who has a “special relationship” with such controlling shareholder (as defined in the Enforcement Decree of the Financial Holding Company Act) changes by 1% or more of the total issued and outstanding voting shares of the financial holding company;
when it changes its corporate name;
when there is a cause for its dissolution; and
when it or its subsidiaries cease to control any of their respective direct or indirect subsidiaries by disposing of their shares of such direct or indirect subsidiary.
Capital Adequacy
The Financial Holding Company Act does not provide for a minimum paid-in capital requirement related to financial holding companies. However, all financial holding companies are required to maintain a specified level
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of solvency. In addition, with respect to the allocation of net profit earned in a fiscal term, a financial holding company must set aside in its legal reserve an amount equal to at least 10% of its net income after tax each time it pays dividends on its net profits earned until its legal reserve reaches at least the aggregate amount of its paid-in capital.
A bank holding company, which is a financial holding company controlling banks or other financial institutions conducting banking business as prescribed in the Financial Holding Company Act, is required to maintain a total minimum consolidated capital adequacy ratio of 11.5% (including applicable additional capital buffers and requirements as described below) as of January 1, 2019. “Consolidated capital adequacy ratio” is defined as the ratio of equity capital as a percentage of risk-weighted assets on a consolidated basis, determined in accordance with the Financial Services Commission requirements that have been formulated based on Bank of International Settlements (or BIS) standards. “Equity capital,” as applicable to bank holding companies, is defined as the sum of common equity Tier I capital, additional Tier I capital and Tier II capital less any deductible items, each as defined under the Regulation on the Supervision of Financial Holding Companies. “Risk-weighted assets” is defined as the sum of credit risk-weighted assets and market risk-weighted assets.
Pursuant to amended regulations promulgated by the Financial Services Commission commencing in 2013 to implement Basel III, Korean bank holding companies were required to maintain a minimum ratio of common equity Tier I capital to risk-weighted assets of 3.5% and Tier I capital to risk-weighted assets of 4.5% from December 1, 2013, which minimum ratios were increased to 4.0% and 5.5%, respectively, from January 1, 2014 and increased further to 4.5% and 6.0%, respectively, from January 1, 2015. Such requirements are in addition to the pre-existing requirement for a minimum ratio of Tier I and Tier II capital (less any capital deductions) to risk-weighted assets of 8.0%, which remains unchanged. The amended regulations also require an additional capital conservation buffer of 1.875% in 2018 and 2.5% in 2019, as well as a potential counter-cyclical capital buffer of up to 2.5%, which is determined on a quarterly basis by the Financial Services Commission. Furthermore, we were designated as one of five domestic systemically important banks for 2018 by the Financial Services Commission and were subject to an additional capital requirement of 0.75% in 2018. In June 2018, we were again designated as a domestic systemically important bank for 2019, which would subject us to an additional capital requirement of 1.0% in 2019.
Liquidity
All financial holding companies are required to match the maturities of their assets and liabilities on a non-consolidated basis in accordance with the Financial Holding Company Act in order to ensure liquidity. Financial holding companies must:
maintain a Won liquidity ratio (defined as Won assets due within one month, including marketable securities, divided by Won liabilities due within one month) of not less than 100% on a non-consolidated basis;
maintain a foreign currency liquidity ratio (defined as foreign currency liquid assets due within three months divided by foreign currency liabilities due within three months) of not less than 80% on a non-consolidated basis (except that such requirement is not applicable to a financial holding company whose foreign currency liabilities constitute less than 1% of its total assets);
maintain a ratio of foreign currency liquid assets due within seven days less foreign currency liabilities due within seven days as a percentage of total foreign currency assets of not less than 0% on a non-consolidated basis (except that such requirement is not applicable to a financial holding company whose foreign currency liabilities constitute less than 1% of its total assets);
maintain a ratio of foreign currency liquid assets due within a month less foreign currency liabilities due within a month as a percentage of total foreign currency assets of not less than negative 10% on a non-consolidated basis (except that such requirement is not applicable to a financial holding company whose foreign currency liabilities constitute less than 1% of its total assets); and
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make quarterly reports regarding their Won liquidity and foreign currency liquidity to the Financial Supervisory Service.
Financial Exposure to Any Individual Customer and Major Investor
Subject to certain exceptions, the aggregate credit (as defined in the Financial Holding Company Act, the Bank Act, the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act, the Insurance Business Act, the Mutual Savings Bank Act and the Specialized Credit Financial Business Act, respectively) of a financial holding company and its direct and indirect subsidiaries that are banks, merchant banks, financial investment companies, insurance companies, savings banks or specialized credit financial business companies (which we refer to as “Financial Holding Company Total Credit”) to a single group of companies that belong to the same conglomerate as defined in the Monopoly Regulations and Fair Trade Act will not be permitted to exceed 25% of net aggregate equity capital (as defined below).
“Net aggregate equity capital” is defined under the Enforcement Decree of the Financial Holding Company Act as the sum of:
in case of a financial holding company, the capital amount as defined in Article24-3(7), Item 2 of the Enforcement Decree of the Financial Holding Company Act;
in case of a bank, the capital amount as defined in Article 2(1), Item 5 of the Bank Act;
in case of a merchant bank, the capital amount as defined in Article 342(1) of the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act; and
in case of a financial investment company, the capital amount as defined in Article 37(3) of the Enforcement Decree of the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act;
in case of an insurance company, the capital amount as defined in Article 2, Item 15 of the Insurance Business Act;
in case of a savings bank, the capital amount as defined in Article 2, Item 4 of the Mutual Savings Bank Act; and
in case of a specialized credit financial business company, the capital amount as defined in Article 2, Item 19 of the Specialized Credit Financial Business Act;
less the sum of:
the amount of shares of direct and indirect subsidiaries held by the financial holding company;
the amount of shares that are cross-held by each direct and indirect subsidiary that is a bank, merchant bank, financial investment company, insurance company, savings bank or specialized credit financial business company; and
the amount of shares of a financial holding company held by such direct and indirect subsidiaries that are banks, merchant banks, financial investment companies, insurance companies, savings banks or specialized credit financial business companies.
The Financial Holding Company Total Credit to a single individual or judicial person may not exceed 20% of the net aggregate equity capital. In addition, the Financial Holding Company Total Credit to a shareholder holding (together with the persons who have a “special relationship” with the shareholder, as defined in the Enforcement Decree of the Financial Holding Company Act) in aggregate more than 10% of the total issued and outstanding voting shares of a financial holding company generally may not exceed the lesser of (x) 25% of the net aggregate equity capital and (y) the amount of the equity capital of the financial holding company multiplied by the shareholding ratio of the shareholder (together with the persons who have a special relationship with the shareholder).
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Further, the total sum of credits (as defined in the Financial Holding Company Act, the Bank Act, the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act, the Insurance Business Act, the Mutual Savings Bank Act and the Specialized Credit Financial Business Act, respectively) of a bank holding company and its direct and indirect subsidiaries that are banks, merchant banks, financial investment companies, insurance companies, savings banks or specialized credit financial business companies as applicable (“Bank Holding Company Total Credit”) extended to a “major investor” (as defined below) (together with the persons who have a special relationship with that major investor) will not be permitted to exceed the lesser of (x) 25% of the net aggregate equity capital and (y) the amount of the equity capital of the bank holding company multiplied by the shareholding ratio of the major investor, except for certain cases.
“Major investor” is defined as:
a shareholder holding (together with persons who have a special relationship with that shareholder), in excess of 10% (or in the case of a bank holding company controlling regional banks only, 15%) in the aggregate of the bank holding company’s total issued and outstanding voting shares; or
a shareholder holding (together with persons who have a special relationship with that shareholder), more than 4% in the aggregate of the total issued and outstanding voting shares of the bank holding company controlling nationwide banks, where the shareholder is the largest shareholder or has actual control over the major business affairs of the bank holding company through, for example, appointment and dismissal of the officers pursuant to the Enforcement Decree of the Financial Holding Company Act.
In addition, the total sum of the Bank Holding Company Total Credit granted to all of a bank holding company’s major investor must not exceed 25% of the bank holding company’s net aggregate equity capital. Furthermore, any bank holding company that, together with its direct and indirect subsidiaries, intends to extend credit to the bank holding company’s major investor in an amount equal to or exceeding the lesser of (x) the amount equivalent to 0.1% of the net aggregate equity capital and (y) ￦5 billion, in any single transaction, must obtain prior unanimous board resolutions and then, immediately after providing the credit, must file a report to the Financial Services Commission and publicly disclose the filing of the report.
Restrictions on Transactions Among Direct and Indirect Subsidiaries and Financial Holding Company
Generally, a direct or indirect subsidiary of a financial holding company may not extend credits (excluding the amount of corporate credit card payments issued by a direct or indirect subsidiary of a financial holding company that is engaged in the banking business) to that financial holding company. In addition, a direct or indirect subsidiary of a financial holding company may not extend credits (excluding the amount of corporate credit card payments issued by a direct or indirect subsidiary of a financial holding company that is engaged in the banking business) to other direct or indirect subsidiaries of the financial holding company in excess of 10% of its capital amount on an individual basis or to those subsidiaries in excess of 20% of its capital amount on an aggregate basis. The subsidiary extending the credit must also obtain an adequate level of collateral depending on the type of such collateral from the other subsidiaries unless the credit is otherwise approved by the Financial Services Commission. The adequate level of collateral for each type of collateral is as follows:
for deposits and installment savings, obligations of the Korean government or the Bank of Korea, obligations guaranteed by the Korean government or the Bank of Korea, obligations secured by securities issued or guaranteed by the Korean government or the Bank of Korea, 100% of the credit extended;
for obligations of municipal governments under the Local Autonomy Act, local public enterprise under the Local Public Enterprises Act and investment institutions and other quasi-investment institutions under the Basic Act on the Management of Government-Invested Institution or for obligations guaranteed by, or secured by the securities issued or guaranteed by, the aforementioned entities pursuant to the relevant regulations, 110% of the credit extended; and
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for any property other than those set forth in paragraphs (1) and (2) above, 130% of the credit extended.
Subject to certain exceptions, a direct or indirect subsidiary of a financial holding company is prohibited from owning the shares of any other direct or indirect subsidiaries (other than those directly controlled by that direct or indirect subsidiary) under the common control of the financial holding company.
Subject to certain exceptions, a direct or indirect subsidiary of a financial holding company is also prohibited from owning the shares of the financial holding company controlling that direct or indirect subsidiary. The transfer of certain assets classified as precautionary or below between a financial holding company and its direct or indirect subsidiary or between the direct and indirect subsidiaries of a financial holding company is prohibited except for:
transfers to a special purpose company, or entrustment with a trust company, for an asset-backed securitization transaction under the Asset-Backed Securitization Act;
transfers to a mortgage-backed securities issuance company for a mortgage securitization transaction;
transfers or in-kind contributions to a corporate restructuring vehicle under the Corporate Restructuring Investment Companies Act; and
transfers to a corporate restructuring company under the Industry Promotion Act.
Disclosure of Management Performance
For the purpose of protecting the depositors and investors in the subsidiaries of financial holding companies, the Financial Services Commission requires financial holding companies to disclose certain material matters including:
financial condition and profit and loss of the financial holding company and its direct and indirect subsidiaries;
fund-raising by the financial holding company and its direct and indirect subsidiaries and the appropriation of such funds;
any sanctions levied on the financial holding company and its direct and indirect subsidiaries under the Financial Holding Company Act or any corrective measures or sanctions under the Law on Improvement of Structure of Financial Industry; and
occurrence of any non-performing assets or financial incident that may have a material adverse effect, or any other event as prescribed in the applicable regulations.
Restrictions on Shareholdings in Other Companies
Generally, a financial holding company may not own (i) more than 5% of the total issued and outstanding shares of another finance-related company, (ii) any shares of its affiliates, other than its direct or indirect subsidiaries or (iii) any shares of a non-finance-related company.
Restrictions on Shareholdings by Direct and Indirect Subsidiaries
Generally, a direct subsidiary of a financial holding company may not control any other company other than, as an indirect subsidiary of the financial holding company:
financial institutions established in foreign jurisdictions;
certain financial institutions which are engaged in any business that the direct subsidiary may conduct without any licenses or permits;
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certain financial institutions whose business is related to the business of the direct subsidiary as described by the Enforcement Decree of the Financial Holding Company Act (for example, a bank subsidiary may control only credit information companies, credit card companies and financial investment companies with a dealing, brokerage, collective investment, investment advice, discretionary investment management and/or trust license);
certain financial institutions whose business is related to the financial business as prescribed by the regulations of the Ministry of Economy and Finance; and
certain companies which are not financial institutions but whose business is related to the financial business of the financial holding company as prescribed by the Enforcement Decree of the Financial Holding Company Act (for example, a finance-related research company or afinance-related information technology company).
Acquisition of such indirect subsidiaries by direct subsidiaries of a financial holding company requires prior permission from the Financial Services Commission or the submission of a report to the Financial Services Commission, depending on the types of the indirect subsidiaries and the amount of total assets of the indirect subsidiaries.
Subject to certain exceptions, an indirect subsidiary of a financial holding company may not control any other company. If an indirect subsidiary of a financial holding company had control over another company at the time it became such an indirect subsidiary, the indirect subsidiary is required to dispose of its interest in the other company within two years from such time.
Restrictions on Transactions between a Bank Holding Company and its Major Investor
A bank holding company and its direct and indirect subsidiaries may not acquire (including through their respective trust accounts) shares issued by the bank holding company’s major investor in excess of 1% of the net aggregate equity capital (as defined above). In addition, if those entities intend to acquire shares issued by that major investor in any single transaction equal to or exceeding the lesser of (x) the amount equivalent to 0.1% of the net aggregate equity capital and (y) ￦5 billion, that entity must obtain prior unanimous board resolutions and then, immediately after the acquisition, file a report to the Financial Services Commission and publicly disclose the filing of the report.
Restrictions on Ownership of a Financial Holding Company
Under the Financial Holding Company Act, a financial institution generally may not control a financial holding company. In addition, any single shareholder and persons who have a special relationship with that shareholder may acquire beneficial ownership of up to 10% of the total issued and outstanding shares with voting rights of a bank holding company that controls nationwide banks or 15% of the total issued and outstanding shares with voting rights of a bank holding company that controls only regional banks, subject to certain exceptions. Among others, the Korean government and the Korea Deposit Insurance Corporation are not subject to this limit. “Non-financial business group companies” (as defined below), however, may not acquire the beneficial ownership of shares of a bank holding company controlling nationwide banks in excess of 4% of that bank holding company’s outstanding voting shares unless they obtain the approval of the Financial Services Commission and agree not to exercise voting rights in respect of shares in excess of the 4% limit, in which case they may acquire beneficial ownership of up to 10%. Any other person (whether a Korean national or a foreign investor) may acquire no more than 10% of total voting shares issued and outstanding of a bank holding company controlling nationwide banks unless they obtain approval from the Financial Services Commission in each instance where the total holding will exceed 10% (or 15% in the case of a bank holding company controlling only regional banks), 25% or 33% of the total voting shares issued and outstanding of that bank holding company controlling nationwide banks.
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Furthermore, in the case where a person (including Korean and foreign investors, but excluding certain persons prescribed under the Enforcement Decree of the Financial Holding Company Act) (i) acquires in excess of 4% of the total issued and outstanding voting shares of any bank holding company (other than a bank holding company controlling only regional banks), (ii) becomes the largest shareholder of such bank holding company in which such person has acquired in excess of 4% of the total issued and outstanding voting shares, (iii) changes its shareholding in such bank holding company, in which it has acquired in excess of 4% of the total issued and outstanding voting shares, by 1% or more of the total issued and outstanding voting shares of such bank holding company or (iv) is a private equity fund or an investment purpose company holding in excess of 4% of the total outstanding voting shares of a bank holding company and changes its members or shareholders, such person must file a report on such change with the Financial Services Commission (x) in case of (i) and (iii), by the last day of the month immediately following the month in which such change occurred, or (y) in case of (ii) and (iv), within ten days after the end of the month in which such change occurred.
“Non-financial business group companies” as defined under the Financial Holding Company Act include:
any same shareholder group where the aggregate net assets of allnon-financial business companies belonging to that group equals or exceeds 25% of the aggregate net assets of all members of that group;
any same shareholder group where the aggregate assets of allnon-financial business companies belonging to that group equals or exceeds ￦2 trillion;
any mutual fund where a same shareholder group identified in (1) or (2) above beneficially owns and/or exercises the voting rights of more than 4% of the total issued and outstanding voting shares of that mutual fund;
any private equity fund (a) where a person falling under any of items (1) through (3) above is a limited partner holding not less than 10% of the total amount of contributions to the private equity fund, or (b) where a person falling under any of items (1) through (3) above is a general partner, or (c) where the total equity of the private equity fund acquired by each affiliate belonging to several enterprise groups subject to the limitation on mutual investment is 30% or more of the total amount of contributions to the private equity fund; or
the investment purpose company concerned, where a private equity fund falling under item (4) above acquires or holds stocks in excess of 4% of the stock or equity of such company or exercises de facto control over significant managerial matters of such company through appointment or dismissal of executives or in any other manner.
Sharing of Customer Information among Financial Holding Company and its Subsidiaries
Under the Act on Use and Protection of Credit Information, any individual customer’s credit information must be disclosed or otherwise used by financial institutions only to determine, establish or maintain existing commercial transactions with them and only after obtaining written consent to use that information. In addition, under the Act on Real Name Financial Transactions and Confidentiality, an individual working at a financial institution may not provide or reveal information or data concerning the contents of financial transactions to other persons unless such individual receives a request or consent in writing from the holder of a title deed, except under certain exceptions stipulated in the Act. Under the Financial Holding Company Act, a financial holding company and its direct and indirect subsidiaries, however, may share certain credit information of individual customers among themselves for internal management purposes outlined in the Enforcement Decree of the Financial Holding Company Act (such as credit risk management, internal control and customer analysis), without the customers’ written consent, subject to the methods and procedures for provision of such information set forth therein. A subsidiary financial investment company with a dealing and/or brokerage license of a financial holding company may provide that financial holding company and its other direct and indirect subsidiaries information relating to the aggregate amount of cash or securities that a customer of the financial
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investment company with a dealing and/or brokerage license has deposited, for internal management purposes outlined in the Enforcement Decree of the Financial Holding Company Act, subject to the methods and procedures for provision of such information set forth therein. Recent amendments to the Financial Holding Company Act, which became effective on November 29, 2014, limit the scope of credit information that may be shared without the customers’ prior consent and require certain procedures for provision of customer information as prescribed by the Financial Services Commission. Beginning in November 29, 2014, notice must be given to customers at least once a year regarding (i) the provider of customer information, (ii) the recipient of customer information, (iii) the purpose of providing the information and (iv) the categories of the information provided.
Principal Regulations Applicable to Banks
The banking system in Korea is governed by the Bank Act and the Bank of Korea Act of 1950, as amended (the “Bank of Korea Act”). In addition, Korean banks are subject to the regulations and supervision of the Bank of Korea, the Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of Korea, the Financial Services Commission and its executive body, the Financial Supervisory Service.
The Bank of Korea, established in June 1950 under the Bank of Korea Act, performs the customary functions of a central bank. It seeks to contribute to the sound development of the national economy by price stabilization through establishing and implementing efficient monetary and credit policies with a focus on financial stability. The Bank of Korea acts under instructions of the Monetary Policy Committee, the supreme policy-making body of the Bank of Korea.
Under the Bank of Korea Act, the Monetary Policy Committee’s primary responsibilities are to formulate monetary and credit policies and to determine the operations, management and administration of the Bank of Korea.
The Financial Services Commission, established in April 1998, regulates commercial banks pursuant to the Bank Act, including establishing guidelines on capital adequacy of commercial banks, and promulgates regulations relating to supervision of banks. Furthermore, the Financial Services Commission regulates market entry into the banking business.
The Financial Supervisory Service, established in January 1999, is subject to the instructions and directives of the Financial Services Commission and carries out supervision and examination of commercial banks. In particular, the Financial Supervisory Service sets requirements both for the prudent control of liquidity and for capital adequacy and establishes reporting requirements pursuant to the authority delegated to it under the Financial Services Commission regulations, pursuant to which banks are required to submit annual reports on financial performance and shareholdings, regular reports on management strategy and non-performing loans, including write-offs, and management of problem companies and plans for the settlement of bad loans.
Under the Bank Act, approval to commence a commercial banking business or a long-term financing business must be obtained from the Financial Services Commission. Commercial banking business is defined as the lending of funds acquired predominantly from the acceptance of demand deposits for a period not exceeding one year or subject to the limitation established by the Financial Services Commission, for a period between one year and three years. Long-term financing business is defined as the lending, for periods in excess of one year, of funds acquired predominantly from paid-in capital, reserves or other retained earnings, the acceptance of time deposits with maturities of at least one year, or the issuance of debentures or other bonds. A bank wishing to enter into any business other than commercial banking and long-term financing businesses, such as a trust business, must obtain approval from the Financial Services Commission. Approval to merge with any other banking institution, to liquidate, spin off or close a banking business or to transfer all or a part of a business must also be obtained from the Financial Services Commission.
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If the Financial Services Commission deems a bank’s financial condition to be unsound or if a bank fails to meet the applicable capital adequacy ratio set forth under Korean law, the Financial Services Commission may order:
admonitions or warnings with respect to its officers;
assignments of contractual rights and obligations relating to financial transactions;
a suspension of performance by its officers of their duties and the appointment of receivers;
disposals of property holdings or closures of subsidiaries or branch offices or downsizing;
mergers with other financial institutions;
acquisition of such bank by a third party; and
suspensions of a part or all of its business operations for not more than six months.
The Bank Act requires nationwide banks, such as us, to maintain a minimum paid-in capital of ￦100 billion and regional banks to maintain a minimum paid-incapital of ￦25 billion. All banks, including foreign bank branches in Korea, are also required to maintain a prescribed solvency position. A bank must also set aside in its legal reserve an amount equal to at least 10% of the net income after tax each time it pays dividends on net profits earned until its legal reserve reaches at least the aggregate amount of its paid-in capital.
Under the Detailed Regulation on the Supervision of the Banking Business, the capital of a bank is divided into two categories, Tier I and Tier II capital. Tier I capital (core capital) consists of (i) common equity Tier I capital, including paid-in capital, capital surplus and retained earnings related to common equity and accumulated other comprehensive gains and losses, and (ii) additional Tier I capital, including paid-in capital and capital surplus related to hybrid Tier I capital instruments that, among other things, qualify as contingent capital and are subordinated to subordinated debt. Tier II capital (supplementary capital) consists of, among other things, capital and capital surplus from the issuance of Tier II capital, allowances for loan losses on loans classified as “normal” or “precautionary,” subordinated debt and other capital securities which meet the standards prescribed by the governor of the Financial Supervisory Service under Article 26(2) of the Regulation on the Supervision of the Banking Business.
All banks must meet minimum ratios of Tier I and Tier II capital (less any capital deductions) to risk-weighted assets, determined in accordance with Financial Services Commission requirements that have been formulated based on BIS standards. These requirements were adopted and became effective in 1996, and were amended effective January 1, 2008 upon the implementation by the Financial Supervisory Service of Basel II. Under such requirements, all domestic banks and foreign bank branches are required to meet a minimum ratio of Tier I and Tier II capital (less any capital deductions) to risk-weighted assets of 8.0%. Commencing in July 2013, the Financial Services Commission promulgated a series of amended regulations implementing Basel III, pursuant to which Korean banks and bank holding companies were required to maintain a minimum ratio of common equity Tier I capital to risk-weighted assets of 3.5% and Tier I capital torisk-weighted assets of 4.5% from December 1, 2013, which minimum ratios were increased to 4.0% and 5.5%, respectively, from January 1, 2014 and increased further to 4.5% and 6.0%, respectively, from January 1, 2015. Such requirements are in addition to the pre-existing requirement for a minimum ratio of Tier I and Tier II capital (less any capital deductions) torisk-weighted assets of 8.0%, which remains unchanged. The amended regulations also require an additional capital conservation buffer of 1.875% in 2018 and 2.5% in 2019, as well as a potential counter-cyclical capital buffer of up to 2.5%, which is determined on a quarterly basis by the Financial Services Commission.
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Furthermore, we were designated as one of five domestic systemically important banks for 2018 by the Financial Services Commission and were subject to an additional capital requirement of 0.75% in 2018. In June 2018, we were again designated as a domestic systemically important bank for 2019, which would subject us to an additional capital requirement of 1.0% in 2019.
Under the Detailed Regulation on the Supervision of the Banking Business, the following risk-weightratios must be applied by Korean banks in respect of home mortgage loans:
for those banks which adopted a standardized approach for calculating credit risk capital requirements, a risk-weight ratio of 35% (only in the case where the loan is fully secured by a first ranking mortgage) and, with respect to high-risk home mortgage loans, 50% or 70%; and
for those banks which adopted an internal ratings-based approach for calculating credit risk capital requirements, a risk-weight ratio calculated with reference to the probability of default, loss given default and exposure at default, each as defined under the Detailed Regulation on the Supervision of the Banking Business.
All banks are required to ensure adequate liquidity by matching the maturities of their assets and liabilities in accordance with the Regulation on the Supervision of the Banking Business. Banks may not invest an amount exceeding 100% of their Tier I and Tier II capital (less any capital deductions) in equity securities and certain other securities with a redemption period of over three years. This stipulation does not apply to Korean government bonds, Monetary Stabilization Bonds issued by the Bank of Korea or debentures and stocks referred to in items 1 and 2, respectively, of paragraph (6) of Article 11 of the Act on the Improvement of the Structure of the Financial Industry. The Financial Services Commission uses the liquidity coverage ratio (described below) as the principal liquidity risk management measure, and currently requires each Korean bank to:
maintain a liquidity coverage ratio (defined as the ratio of highly liquid assets to total net cash outflows over a 30-day period) of not less than 100%;
maintain a foreign currency liquidity coverage ratio of not less than 80%; and
submit monthly reports with respect to the maintenance of these ratios.
The Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of Korea is empowered to fix and alter minimum reserve requirements that banks must maintain against their deposit liabilities. The current minimum reserve ratios are:
7% of average balances for Won currency demand deposits outstanding;
0% of average balances for Won currency employee asset establishment savings deposits, employee long-term savings deposits, employee house purchase savings deposits, long-term house purchase savings deposits, household long-termsavings deposits and employee preferential savings deposits outstanding (with respect to employee-related deposits, only if such deposits were made prior to February 28, 2013); and
2% of average balances for Won currency time deposits, installment savings deposits, mutual installments, housing installments and certificates of deposit outstanding.
For foreign currency deposit liabilities, a 2% minimum reserve ratio is applied to time deposits with a maturity of one month or longer, certificates of deposit with a maturity of 30 days or longer and savings deposits with a maturity of six months or longer and a 7% minimum reserve ratio is applied to other deposits. A 1% minimum reserve ratio applies to deposits in offshore accounts, immigrant accounts and resident accounts opened by foreign exchange banks as well as foreign currency certificates of deposit held by account holders of such offshore accounts, immigrant accounts and resident accounts opened by foreign exchange banks.
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Furthermore, under the Regulation on the Supervision of the Banking Business, Kookmin Bank is required to maintain a minimum “mid- to long-term foreign exchange funding ratio” of 100%. “Mid-to long term foreign exchange funding ratio” refers to the ratio of (1) the total outstanding amount of foreign exchange borrowing with a maturity of more than one year to (2) the total outstanding amount of foreign exchange lending with a maturity of one year or more.
Amendments Relating to Net Stable Funding Ratio and Leverage Ratio Requirements
Effective January 31, 2018, the Financial Services Commission implemented amendments to the Regulation on Supervision of the Banking Business that impose certain liquidity- and leverage-related ratio requirements on banks in Korea, in accordance with Basel III. Pursuant to these amendments, each Korean bank is required to:
maintain a net stable funding ratio (defined as the ratio of the available amount of stable funding to the required amount of stable funding) of not less than 100%, where (i) the available amount of stable funding generally refers to the portion of liabilities and capital expected to be reliable over aone-year time horizon and (ii) the required amount of stable funding generally refers to the portion of assets requiring stable funding over a time horizon of one year or longer, each as calculated in accordance with the Detailed Regulation on Supervision of the Banking Business;
maintain a leverage ratio (defined as the ratio of core capital to total exposures) of not less than 3%, where (i) core capital includes paid-in capital, capital surplus, retained earnings and hybrid Tier I capital instruments and (ii) total exposures include on-balancesheet exposures and off-balance sheet exposures, each as calculated in accordance with the Detailed Regulation on Supervision of the Banking Business; and
Financial Exposure to Any Individual Customer or Major Shareholder
Under the Bank Act, subject to certain exceptions, the sum of large exposures by a bank—in other words, the total sum of its credits to single individuals, juridical persons or business groups that exceed 10% of the sum of Tier I and Tier II capital (less any capital deductions)—generally must not exceed five times the sum of Tier I and Tier II capital (less any capital deductions). In addition, subject to certain exceptions, banks generally may not extend credit (including loans, guarantees, purchases of securities (only in the nature of a credit) and any other transactions that directly or indirectly create credit risk) in excess of 20% of the sum of Tier I and Tier II capital (less any capital deductions) to a single individual or juridical person, or grant credit in excess of 25% of the sum of Tier I and Tier II capital (less any capital deductions) to a single group of companies as defined in the Monopoly Regulations and Fair Trade Act.
The Bank Act also provides for certain restrictions on extending credits to a major shareholder. A “major shareholder” is defined as:
a shareholder holding (together with persons who have a special relationship with that shareholder) in excess of 10%; (or 15% in the case of regional banks) in the aggregate of the bank’s total issued and outstanding voting shares; or
a shareholder holding (together with persons who have a special relationship with such shareholder) in excess of 4% in the aggregate of the bank’s (excluding regional banks) total issued and outstanding voting shares of a bank (excluding shares subject to the shareholding restrictions on “non-financial business group companies” as described below), where such shareholder is the largest shareholder or has actual control over the major business affairs of the bank through, for example, appointment and dismissal of the officers pursuant to the Enforcement Decree of the Bank Act. Non-financial business group companies primarily consist of: (i) any single shareholding group whose non-financial company assets comprise no less than 25% of its aggregate net assets; (ii) any single shareholding group whose
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non-financial company assets comprise no less than ￦2 trillion in aggregate; or (iii) any investment company under the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act of which any single shareholding group identified in (i) or (ii) above, owns more than 4% of the total issued and outstanding shares.
Under these restrictions, banks may not extend credits to a major shareholder (together with persons who have a special relationship with that shareholder) in an amount greater than the lesser of (x) 25% of the sum of the bank’s Tier I and Tier II capital (less any capital deductions) and (y) the relevant major shareholder’s shareholding ratio multiplied by the sum of the bank’s Tier I and Tier II capital (less any capital deductions). In addition, the total sum of credits granted to all major shareholders must not exceed 25% of the bank’s Tier I and Tier II capital (less any capital deductions).
Interest Rates
Korean banks generally depend on deposits as their primary funding source. Under the Act on Registration of Credit Business and Protection of Finance Users and the regulations thereunder, interest rates on loans made by registered banks in Korea to individuals or small corporations, as defined under the Framework Act on Small and Medium Enterprises, may not exceed 24% per annum. Historically, interest rates on deposits and lending were regulated by the Monetary Policy Committee. There are no controls on deposit interest rates in Korea, except for the prohibition on interest payments on current account deposits.
Lending to Small- and Medium-sized Enterprises
In order to obtain funding from the Bank of Korea at concessionary rates for their small- and medium-sized enterprise loans, banks are required to allocate a certain minimum percentage of any quarterly increase in their Won currency lending to small- and medium-sized enterprises. Currently, this minimum percentage is 45% in the case of nationwide banks and 60% in the case of regional banks. If a bank does not comply with this requirement, the Bank of Korea may:
require the bank to prepay all or a portion of funds provided to that bank in support of loans to small- and medium-sized enterprises; or
lower the bank’s credit limit.
For the purpose of protecting depositors and investors in commercial banks, the Financial Services Commission requires commercial banks to publicly disclose certain material matters, including:
financial condition and profit and loss of the bank and its subsidiaries;
fund raising by the bank and the appropriation of such funds;
any sanctions levied on the bank under the Bank Act or any corrective measures or sanctions under the Law on Improvement of Structure of Financial Industry; and
except as may otherwise have been disclosed by a bank or its financial holding company listed on the KRX KOSPI Market in accordance with the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act, occurrence of any of the following events or any other event as prescribed by the applicable regulations:
loans bearing no profit made to a single business group in an amount exceeding 10% of the sum of the bank’s Tier I and Tier II capital (less any capital deductions) as of the end of the previous month (where the loan exposure to that borrower is calculated pursuant to the criteria under the Detailed Regulation on the Supervision of the Banking Business), unless the loan exposure to that group is not more than ￦4 billion; and
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any loss due to court judgments or similar decisions in civil proceedings in an amount exceeding 1% of the sum of the bank’s Tier I and Tier II capital (less any capital deductions) as of the end of the previous month, unless the loss is not more than ￦1 billion.
Restrictions on Lending
Pursuant to the Bank Act and its sub-regulations, commercial banks may not provide:
loans directly or indirectly secured by a pledge of a bank’s own shares;
loans directly or indirectly to enable a natural or juridical person to buy the bank’s own shares;
loans to any of the bank’s officers or employees, other than de minimis loans of up to (i) ￦20 million in the case of a general loan, (ii) ￦50 million in the case of a general loan plus a housing loan or (iii) ￦60 million in the aggregate for general loans, housing loans and loans to pay damages arising from wrongful acts of employees in financial transactions;
credit (including loans) secured by a pledge of shares of a subsidiary corporation of the bank or to enable a natural or juridical person to buy shares of a subsidiary corporation of the bank; or
loans to any officers or employees of a subsidiary corporation of the bank, other than general loans of up to ￦20 million or general and housing loans of up to ￦50 million in the aggregate.
Regulations Relating to Retail Household Loans
The Financial Services Commission has implemented a number of changes in recent years to the regulations relating to retail household lending by banks. Under the currently applicable regulations:
as to loans secured by collateral of housing (including apartments) located nationwide, the loan-to-value ratio (the aggregate principal amount of loans secured by such collateral over the appraised value of the collateral) should not exceed 70%;
as to loans secured by collateral of housing (including apartments) located in areas of excessive investment or housing (including apartments) located in areas of high speculation, in each case, as designated by the government, the loan-to-value ratio should not exceed 40%, except that such maximum loan-to-value ratio is 50% for low-income households that (i) have an annual income of less than ￦70 million (or ￦80 million for first-home buyers), (ii) do not currently own any housing and (iii) are using the loan to purchase low-price housing valued at less than ￦600 million;
as to any new loans secured by collateral of housing to be extended to a household, any member of which has already received one or more loans secured by collateral of housing, the maximum loan-to-value ratio is 10% lower than the applicable loan-to-value ratio described above;
as to loans secured by collateral of housing (including apartments) located in areas of excessive investment or housing (including apartments) located in areas of high speculation, in each case, as designated by the government, the borrower’s debt-to-income ratio (calculated as (1) the aggregate annual total payment amount of (x) the principal of and interest on loans secured by such housing and (y) the interest on other debts of the borrower over (2) the borrower’s annual income) should not exceed 40%, except that such maximum debt-to-income ratio is 50% for low-income households that (i) have an annual income of less than ￦70 million (or ￦80 million for first-home buyers), (ii) do not currently own any housing and (iii) are using the loan to purchase low-price housing valued at less than ￦600 million;
as to any new loans secured by collateral of housing to be extended to a household, any member of which has already received one or more loans secured by collateral of housing, the maximum debt-to-income ratio is 10% lower than the applicable debt-to-income ratio described above;
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as to apartments located in areas of high speculation as designated by the government, a household is permitted to have only one new loan secured by such apartment; and
where a household has two or more loans secured by apartments located in areas of high speculation as designated by the government, the loan with the earliest maturity date must be repaid first and the number of loans must be eventually reduced to one.
Restrictions on Investments in Property
A bank may not invest in securities set forth below in excess of 100% of the sum of the bank’s Tier I and Tier II capital (less any capital deductions):
debt securities (within the meaning of paragraph (3) of Article 4 of the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act) the maturity of which exceeds three years, but excluding government bonds, monetary stabilization bonds issued by the Bank of Korea and bonds within the meaning of item 2, paragraph (6) of Article 11 of the Act on the Improvement of the Structure of the Financial Industry;
equity securities, but excluding securities within the meaning of item 1, paragraph (6) of Article 11 of the Act on the Improvement of the Structure of the Financial Industry;
derivatives linked securities (within the meaning of paragraph (7) of Article 4 of the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act) the maturity of which exceeds three years; and
beneficiary certificates, investment contracts and depositary receipts (within the meaning of paragraph (2) of Article 4 of the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act) the maturity of which exceeds three years.
A bank may possess real estate property only to the extent necessary for the conduct of its business. The aggregate value of such property may not exceed 60% of the sum of the bank’s Tier I and Tier II capital (less any capital deductions). Any property that a bank acquires by exercising its rights as a secured party, or which a bank is prohibited from acquiring under the Bank Act, must be disposed of within three years, unless specified otherwise by the regulations thereunder.
Under the Bank Act, a bank may not own more than 15% of shares outstanding with voting rights of another corporation, except where, among other reasons:
that corporation engages in a category of financial businesses set forth by the Financial Services Commission; or
the acquisition of shares by the bank is necessary for the corporate restructuring of such corporation and is approved by the Financial Services Commission.
In the above exceptional cases, the total investment in corporations in which the bank owns more than 15% of the outstanding shares with voting rights may not exceed (i) 20% of the sum of Tier I and Tier II capital (less any capital deductions) or (ii) 30% of the sum of Tier I and Tier II capital (less any capital deductions) where the acquisition satisfies the requirements determined by the Financial Services Commission.
The Bank Act provides that a bank using its bank accounts and its trust accounts is not permitted to acquire the shares issued by the major shareholder of such bank in excess of an amount equal to 1% of the sum of Tier I and Tier II capital (less any capital deductions).
Restrictions on Bank Ownership
Under the Bank Act, a single shareholder and persons who have a special relationship with that shareholder generally may acquire beneficial ownership of no more than 10% of a nationwide bank’s total issued and
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outstanding shares with voting rights and no more than 15% of a regional bank’s total issued and outstanding shares with voting rights. The Korean government, the Korea Deposit Insurance Corporation and bank holding companies qualifying under the Financial Holding Company Act are not subject to this limit. However, pursuant to an amendment to the Bank Act which became effective on February 14, 2014, non-financial business group companies may not acquire beneficial ownership of shares of a nationwide bank in excess of 4% (or 15% in the case of a regional bank) of that bank’s outstanding voting shares, unless they satisfy certain requirements set forth by the Enforcement Decree of the Bank Act, obtain the approval of the Financial Services Commission and agree not to exercise voting rights in respect of shares in excess of the 4% limit (or the 15% limit in the case of a regional bank), in which case they may acquire beneficial ownership of up to 10% of a nationwide bank’s outstanding voting shares. Such amendment grants an exception fornon-financial business group companies which, at the time of the enactment of the amended provisions, held more than 4% of the shares of a bank.
In addition, if a foreign investor, as defined in the Foreign Investment Promotion Act, owns in excess of 4% of a nationwide bank’s outstanding voting shares, non-financial business group companies may acquire beneficial ownership of up to 10% (or 15% in the case of a regional bank) of that bank’s outstanding voting shares, and in excess of 10% (or 15% in the case of a regional bank), 25% or 33% of that bank’s outstanding voting shares with the approval of the Financial Services Commission in each instance, up to the number of shares owned by the foreign investor. Any other person (whether a Korean national or a foreign investor), with the exception of non-financial business group companies described above, may acquire no more than 10% of a nationwide bank’s total voting shares issued and outstanding, unless they obtain approval from the Financial Services Commission in each instance where the total holding will exceed 10% (or 15% in the case of regional banks), 25% or 33% of the bank’s total voting shares issued and outstanding provided that, in addition to the foregoing threshold shareholding ratios, the Financial Services Commission may, at its discretion, designate a separate and additional threshold shareholding ratio.
Deposit Insurance System
The Depositor Protection Act provides insurance for certain deposits of banks in Korea through a deposit insurance system. Under the Depositor Protection Act, all banks governed by the Bank Act are required to pay an insurance premium to the Korea Deposit Insurance Corporation on a quarterly basis and the rate is determined under the Enforcement Decree to the Depositor Protection Act. If the Korea Deposit Insurance Corporation makes a payment on an insured amount, it will acquire the depositors’ claims with respect to that payment amount. The Korea Deposit Insurance Corporation insures a maximum of ￦50 million per individual for deposits and interest in a single financial institution, regardless of when the deposits were made and the size of the deposits.
Restrictions on Foreign Exchange Position
Under the Korean Foreign Exchange Transaction Law, each of a bank’s net overpurchased and oversold positions may not exceed 50% of its shareholder’s equity as of the end of the prior month.
Laws and Regulations Governing Other Business Activities
A bank must register with the Ministry of Economy and Finance to enter the foreign exchange business, which is governed by the Foreign Exchange Transaction Act of Korea. A bank must obtain the permission of the Financial Services Commission to enter the securities business, which is governed by regulations under the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act. Under these laws, a bank may engage in the foreign exchange business, securities repurchase business, governmental/public bond underwriting business and governmental bond dealing business.
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Trust Business
A bank must obtain approval from the Financial Services Commission to engage in trust businesses. The Trust Act and the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act govern the trust activities of banks, and they are subject to various legal and accounting procedures and requirements, including the following:
under the Trust Act, assets accepted in trust by a bank in Korea must be segregated from other assets in the accounts of that bank; and
depositors and other general creditors cannot obtain or assert claims against the assets comprising the trust accounts in the event the bank is liquidated or wound-up.
The bank must make a special reserve of 25% or more of fees from each unspecified money trust account for which a bank guarantees the principal amount and a fixed rate of interest until the total reserve for that account equals 5% of the trust amount. Since January 1999, the Korean government has prohibited Korean banks from offering new guaranteed fixed rate trust account products whose principal and interest are guaranteed.
Under the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act, which became effective in February 2009, a bank with a trust business license (such as Kookmin Bank) is permitted to offer both specified money trust account products and unspecified money trust account products. Previously, banks were not permitted to offer unspecified money trust account products pursuant to the Indirect Investment Asset Management Act, which is no longer in effect following the effectiveness of the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act. Due to changes in applicable regulations, new sales of pension savings trusts, a form of unspecified money trust account product, have been suspended starting in January 2018. Transactions involving existing pension savings trusts, however, are still permitted.
Credit Card Business
In order to enter the credit card business, a company must obtain a license from the Financial Services Commission. Credit card businesses are governed by the Specialized Credit Financial Business Act, which sets forth specific requirements with respect to the credit card business as well as generally prohibiting unsound business practices relating to the credit card business which may infringe on the rights of credit card holders or negatively affect the soundness of the credit card industry. Credit card companies, including our wholly-owned subsidiary, KB Kookmin Card Co., Ltd., are regulated by the Financial Services Commission and the Financial Supervisory Service.
Disclosure and Reports
Under the Specialized Credit Financial Business Act and the regulations thereunder, a credit card company is required to disclose on a periodic and on-going basis certain material matters and events. In addition, a credit card company must submit periodic reports with respect to its results of operations to the Governor of the Financial Supervisory Service, in accordance with the guidelines of the Financial Supervisory Service.
Restrictions on Funding
Under the Specialized Credit Financial Business Act and the regulations thereunder, a credit card company must ensure that its total assets do not exceed an amount equal to six times its equity capital and that the ratio of its adjusted equity capital to its adjusted total assets is not less than 8.0%. However, if a credit card company is unable to comply with such limit upon the occurrence of unavoidable events, such as drastic changes in the domestic and global financial markets, such limit may be adjusted through a resolution of the Financial Services Commission.
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Risk of Loss Due to Lost, Stolen, Forged or Altered Credit Cards
Under the Specialized Credit Financial Business Act, a credit card company is liable for any loss arising from the unauthorized use of credit cards or debit cards after it has received notice from the holder of the loss or theft of the card. A credit card company is also responsible for any losses resulting from the use of forged or altered credit cards, debit cards and pre-paid cards. A credit card company may, however, transfer all or part of this latter risk of loss to holders of credit card in the event of willful misconduct or gross negligence by holders of credit card if the terms and conditions of the agreement entered between the credit card company and members of such cards specifically provide for that transfer.
For these purposes, disclosure of a customer’s password that is made intentionally or through gross negligence, or the transfer of or giving as collateral of the credit card or debit card, is considered willful misconduct or gross negligence. However, a disclosure of a cardholder’s password that is made under irresistible force or threat to cardholder or his/her relatives’ life or health will not be deemed as willful misconduct or negligence of the cardholder.
Each credit card company must institute appropriate measures to fulfill these obligations, such as establishing provisions, purchasing insurance or joining a cooperative association.
Pursuant to the Enforcement Decree to Specialized Credit Financial Business Act, a credit card company will be liable for any losses arising from loss or theft of a credit card (which was not from the holder’s willful misconduct or negligence) during the period beginning 60 days before the notice by the holder to the credit card company.
Pursuant to the Specialized Credit Financial Business Act, the Financial Services Commission may either restrict the limit or take other necessary measures against the credit card company with respect to such matters as the maximum limits on the amount per credit card, details of credit card terms and conditions, management of credit card merchants and collection of claims, including the following:
maximum limits for cash advances on credit cards;
use restrictions on debit cards with respect to per day or per transaction usage;
aggregate issuance limits and maximum limits on the amount per card onpre-paid cards; and
other matters prescribed by the Enforcement Decree to the Specialized Credit Financial Business Act.
Lending Ratio in Ancillary Business
Pursuant to the Enforcement Decree to the Specialized Credit Financial Business Act, a credit card company must maintain an aggregate quarterly average outstanding lending balance to credit cardholders (including cash advances and credit card loans, but excluding restructured loans) no greater than the sum of (i) its aggregate quarterly average outstanding credit card balance arising from the purchase of goods and services and (ii) the aggregate quarterly debit card transaction volume.
Issuance of New Cards and Solicitation of New Cardholders
The Enforcement Decree to the Specialized Credit Financial Business Act establishes the conditions under which a credit card company may issue new cards and solicit new members. New credit cards may be issued only to the following persons:
persons who are at least 19 years old when they apply for a credit card;
persons whose capability to pay bills as they come due has been verified using standards established by the credit card company; and
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in the case of minors who are 18 years old, persons who submit documents evidencing employment as of the date of the credit card application, such as an employment certificate, or persons for whom the issuance of a credit card is necessitated by governmental policies, such as financial aid.
In addition, a credit card company may not solicit credit card members by:
providing economic benefits or promising to provide economic benefits in excess of 10% of the annual credit card fee (in the case of credit cards with annual fees that are less than the average of the annual fees charged by major credit cards in Korea, the annual fee will be deemed to be equal to such average annual fee) in connection with issuing a credit card; provided, however, that providing economic benefits or promising to provide economic benefits not exceeding the amount of the annual credit card fee to an applicant that becomes a credit card member through an online platform is permissible;
soliciting applicants on roads, public places or along corridors used by the general public;
soliciting applicants through visits, except those visits made upon prior consent and visits to a business area;
soliciting applicants through the Internet without verifying whether the applicant is who he or she purports to be, by means of a certified digital signature under the Digital Signature Act; and
soliciting applicants through pyramid sales methods.
Compliance Rules on Collection of Receivable Claims
Pursuant to Supervisory Regulation on the Specialized Credit Financial Business, a credit card company may not:
exert violence or threaten violence;
inform a related party (a guarantor of the debtor, blood relative or fiancé(e) of the debtor, a person living in the same household as the debtor or a person working in the same workplace as the debtor) of the debtor’s obligations without just cause;
provide false information relating to the debtor’s obligation to the debtor or his or her related parties;
threaten to sue or sue the debtor for fraud despite lack of affirmative evidence to establish that the debtor has submitted forged or false documentation with respect to his or her ability to make payment;
visit or telephone the debtor during late evening hours (between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m.); and
utilize other uncustomary methods to collect the receivables that interfere with the privacy or the peace in the workplace of the debtor or his or her related parties.
Principal Regulations Applicable to Insurance Companies
Under the Insurance Business Act, a company seeking to engage in the insurance business in Korea is required to obtain business authorizations and licenses from the Financial Services Commission, and such company is required to comply with the Insurance Business Act and the regulations thereunder. These rules and regulations cover, among other things: (i) the requirements for obtaining business authorizations and licenses to operate an insurance company; (ii) the scope of business an insurance company may undertake; (iii) the operations of an insurance company, including its asset management activities; (iv) the methods of insurance solicitation; (v) the supervision of the insurance business; and (vi) the disciplinary actions for violation of the Insurance Business Act, which may include revocation of a license, imprisonment, suspension of operations, fines, surcharges and penalties.
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The Financial Services Commission has the authority to oversee matters involving licenses necessary for, and supervision of, the operation of an insurance business. Pursuant to the Regulation on Supervision of Insurance Business and the Regulation on Corporate Governance of Financial Companies, the Financial Services Commission sets forth detailed criteria for obtaining the authorization necessary to engage in the insurance business, as well as various comprehensive standards required to be met by an insurance company. The Financial Services Commission entrusts the Financial Supervisory Service with certain matters pursuant to the Regulation on Supervision of Insurance Business, as specified under the Detailed Enforcement Regulations on Insurance Supervision.
Since an insurance company falls within the scope of a financial institution under the Act on the Structural Improvement of the Financial Industry, special provisions thereunder apply to an insurance company in the event (i) it merges with, or converts into, another financial institution, (ii) it becomes bankrupt or insolvent or is dissolved or (iii) members of its business group acquire shares of another company in excess of a certain percentage. In addition, an insurance company that offers and sells investment-type insurance products, such as variable insurance products, and manages assets under special accounts for variable insurance policies is deemed a financial investment company under the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act. Such insurance company is subject to certain provisions under the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act, such as regulations on the control of conflicts of interest as well as the establishment and maintenance of firewalls for asset management of special accounts related to variable insurance policies. In addition, pursuant to the Foreign Exchange Transactions Act, an insurance company is required to obtain prior approval from the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Bank of Korea, the Financial Supervisory Service or a foreign exchange bank and may be required to file periodic reports if the company engages in any of the following: (a) a transaction involving a foreign currency; (b) a transaction with a non-resident involving either the Won or a foreign currency; (c) a transaction that requires an outgoing overseas payment; (d) a transaction that requires receipt of an overseas payment; and (e) any other transaction prescribed under the Foreign Exchange Transactions Act. Furthermore, an insurance company is required to comply with the Act on the Corporate Governance of Financial Companies.
Scope of Business of Insurance Companies
Under the Insurance Business Act, an insurance company is prohibited from concurrently operating a life insurance business and a non-life insurance business (including property, marine and cargo and liability insurance), provided that an insurance company may concurrently operate a “type three” insurance business (including casualty, disease and health care insurance) and provide reinsurance to other insurance companies. However, limited cross-selling of life insurance andnon-life insurance products by insurance sales agents working for life insurance or non-life insurance companies in Korea is permitted by the Financial Services Commission.
Upon approval by the Financial Services Commission, a life insurance company may operate (i) a life insurance business, (ii) a pension insurance (including retirement insurance) business and (iii) type three insurance businesses, while a non-life insurance company may operate (i) various types of non-life insurance businesses (including property, marine and cargo, automobile, guarantee, reinsurance and certain other enumerated non-life insurance as designated under the Enforcement Decree of the Insurance Business Act as well as liability insurance) and (ii) type three insurance businesses.
Both life insurance and non-life insurance companies may also operate certain financial businesses and incidental businesses designated under the Enforcement Decree of the Insurance Business Act.
Requirements Relating to Insurance Solicitation
The Insurance Business Act limits entities that may engage in insurance solicitation to insurance sales agents, insurance agencies (including those of financial institutions), insurance brokers and officers and
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employees of an insurance company. Any person or entity wishing to act as an insurance sales agent, insurance agency (including those of financial institutions) or insurance broker must register with the Financial Services Commission and report promptly to the Financial Services Commission the occurrence of certain changes prescribed under the Insurance Business Act.
Insurance brochures used for insurance solicitation must clearly specify the terms required under the Insurance Business Act in an easy-to-understand manner. Where an insurance company or any person engaging in insurance solicitation persuades an ordinary policyholder to enter into an insurance contract, it must explain to such ordinary policyholder about certain critical matters of the insurance contract prescribed by the Enforcement Decree of the Insurance Business Act, including insurance premiums, coverage scope and restrictions on the payment of insurance proceeds, in a manner the policyholder can easily understand.
Where an insurance company or any person engaging in insurance solicitation advertises an insurance product, it must include the details of such insurance product in such advertisement as prescribed under the Insurance Business Act and must not engage in any act which, among other things, may lead to a misunderstanding that such insurance product would provide a large amount of insurance proceeds by emphasizing selective terms and conditions of such product or introducing cases where a large amount of insurance proceeds were paid.
In connection with the execution or solicitation of an insurance contract, any person engaging in insurance solicitation must not engage in any act prohibited under the Insurance Business Act, including acts of providing a policyholder with false information regarding an insurance product and acts intended to interrupt or prevent a policyholder from notifying an insurance company of an important matter relevant to an insurance policy.
Any person engaging in insurance solicitation is prohibited from providing special benefits (including, but not limited to, cash over a certain amount and discounts on insurance premiums) in connection with the execution of an insurance contract unless such special benefits are stipulated in the underlying documents for such insurance product. In addition, an insurance company is prohibited from entrusting any person other than those who are eligible under the Insurance Business Act to engage in insurance solicitation or paying any compensation to any ineligible persons for his or her insurance solicitation. The Insurance Business Act and the Enforcement Decree of the Insurance Business Act also prescribe in detail certain practices that insurance agencies of financial institutions are restricted from engaging in, including, but not limited to:
offering additional services, such as providing a loan, on condition that the individual purchase a life insurance policy; and
including insurance premiums in loan transactions without the prior consent of the borrower.
The Insurance Business Act permits insurance sales agents working for life insurance companies to cross-sell non-life insurance products of one non-life insurance company, and insurance sales agents working for non-life insurance companies are correspondingly permitted to cross-sell the life insurance products of one life insurance company.
Pursuant to the risk-based capital adequacy requirements implemented by the Financial Services Commission, insurance companies in Korea are required to maintain a statutory ratio of available regulatory capital to risk-weighted assets of not less than 100% on a consolidated basis (although a risk-based capital adequacy ratio of not less than 150% is still considered standard in the Korean insurance industry). Risk based capital adequacy requirements require insurance companies to hold adequate capital to cover their exposures to interest rate risk, market risk, credit risk and operational risk as well as insurance risk by reflecting such risks in their calculation of risk-weighted assets. The statutory risk-based capital adequacy ratio for insurance companies is computed by dividing available capital by required capital. Available capital of an insurance company is
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computed as the sum of, among other things, capital stock, reserve for policyholder dividends and bad debt allowance after deducting, among other things, deferred acquisition costs, goodwill, and prepaid expenses. Required capital is computed based on the sum of (i) the square root of the sum of the squares of (w) insurance risk amounts, (x) interest rate risk amounts, (y) credit risk amounts and (z) market risk amounts, and (ii) the operating risk amounts, with each risk amount being calculated in accordance with the detailed criteria set forth under the Regulation on Supervision of Insurance Business and the Detailed Enforcement Regulations on Insurance Supervision.
The Financial Supervisory Service has announced that it plans to introduce a new regulatory solvency regime for insurance companies by 2022 based on the International Capital Standard developed by the International Association of Insurance Supervisors, which would be similar in substance to the Solvency II Directive of the European Union. The Solvency II Directive, which has been in effect in the European Union since January 1, 2016, is a comprehensive program of regulatory requirements for insurance companies, covering authorization, corporate governance, supervisory reporting, public disclosure and risk assessment and management, as well as solvency. Under the Financial Supervisory Service’s planned new solvency regime in Korea, among other things, insurance contract liabilities are expected to be measured based on market value, rather than book value, which would require a number of insurance companies in Korea with a large portfolio of high guaranteed rate of return products to obtain additional capital to meet their capital adequacy requirements. The Financial Supervisory Service has also announced its plans to implement a series of incremental changes to the calculation methodology for the risk-based capital adequacy ratio of insurance companies, as interim measures. Such changes implemented in 2017 included increasing the maximum statutory duration of insurance liabilities recognized for purposes of such calculation, as well as reducing the coefficient applied in calculating interest rate risk and adjusting the methods used to assess the risk of guaranteed benefits of variable insurance policies. The details of the new solvency regime in Korea have not yet been finalized and are likely to be further amended in the future.
Regulations on Class Actions Regarding Securities
The Law on Class Actions Regarding Securities was enacted as of January 20, 2004 and last amended on May 28, 2013. The Law on Class Actions Regarding Securities governs class actions suits instituted by one or more representative plaintiff(s) on behalf of 50 or more persons who claim to have been damaged in a capital markets transaction involving securities issued by a listed company in Korea.
Applicable causes of action with respect to such suits include:
claims for damages caused by misleading information contained in a securities statement;
claims for damages caused by the filing of a misleading business report,semi-annual report, or quarterly report;
claims for damages caused by insider trading or market manipulation; and
claims instituted against auditors for damages caused by accounting irregularities.
Any such class action may be instituted upon approval from the presiding court and the outcome of such class action will have a binding effect on all potential plaintiffs who have not joined the action, with the exception of those who have filed an opt out notice with such court.
Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act
The Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act, which became effective in February 2009, regulates and governs the financial investment business in Korea. The entities that regulate and supervise financial investment companies are the Financial Services Commission, the Financial Supervisory Service and the Securities and Futures Commission.
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Under the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act, a company must obtain a license from the Financial Services Commission to commence a financial investment business such as a brokerage business, a dealing business or an underwriting business, or register with the Financial Services Commission to commence a financial investment business such as an investment advisory business or a discretionary investment management business. A bank is permitted to engage in certain types of financial investment business as specified under the Enforcement Decree of the Bank Act. Prior to commencing a financial investment business, a bank must file a report with the Financial Services Commission and apply for a license pursuant to the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act.
Consolidation of Capital Markets-Related Laws
Prior to the effectiveness of the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act, there were separate laws regulating various types of financial institutions depending on the type of financial institution (for example, securities companies, futures companies, trust business companies and asset management companies) and subjecting financial institutions to different licensing and ongoing regulatory requirements (for example, the Korean Securities Exchange Act, the Futures Business Act and the Indirect Investment Asset Management Business Act). By applying one uniform set of rules to the same financial business having the same economic function, the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act attempts to improve and address issues caused by the previous regulatory system under which the same economic function relating to capital markets-related businesses are governed by multiple regulations. To this end, the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act categorizes capital markets-relatedbusinesses into six different functions, as follows:
dealing, trading and underwriting of “financial investment products” (as defined below);
brokerage of financial investment products;
establishment of collective investment schemes and the management thereof;
investment advice;
discretionary investment management; and
trusts (together with the five businesses set forth above, the “Financial Investment Businesses”).
Accordingly, all financial businesses relating to financial investment products have been reclassified as one or more of the Financial Investment Businesses described above, and financial institutions are subject to the regulations applicable to their relevant Financial Investment Businesses, regardless of the type of the financial institution. For example, under the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act, derivative businesses conducted by former securities companies and future companies will be subject to the same regulations.
Banking and insurance businesses are not subject to the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act and will continue to be regulated under separate laws. However, they may become subject to the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act if their activities involve any financial investment businesses requiring a license pursuant to the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act.
Comprehensive Definition of Financial Investment Products
In an effort to encompass the various types of securities and derivative products available in the capital markets, the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act sets forth a comprehensive term “financial investment products,” defined to mean all financial products with a risk of loss in the invested amount (in contrast to “deposits,” which are financial products for which the invested amount is protected or preserved). Financial investment products are classified into two major categories: (i) “securities” (financial investment products in which the risk of loss is limited to the invested amount) and (ii) “derivatives” (financial investment products in which the risk of loss may exceed the invested amount). As a result of the general and broad definition of financial investment products, a variety of financial products may be defined as a financial
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investment product, which would enable Financial Investment Companies (defined below) to handle a broader range of financial products. Under the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act, entities formerly licensed as securities companies, asset management companies, futures companies and other entities engaging in any Financial Investment Business are classified as “Financial Investment Companies.”
New License System and the Conversion of Existing Licenses
Under the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act, Financial Investment Companies are able to choose the type of Financial Investment Business in which to engage (through a “check the box” method set forth in the relevant license application), by specifying the desired (i) Financial Investment Business, (ii) financial investment product and (iii) target customers to which financial investment products may be sold or distributed (that is, general investors or professional investors). Licenses will be issued under the specific businesssub-categories described in the foregoing sentence. For example, it would be possible for a Financial Investment Company to obtain a license to engage in the Financial Investment Business of (i) dealing (ii) over the counter derivatives products (iii) only with sophisticated investors.
Financial institutions that engage in business activities constituting a Financial Investment Business are required to take certain steps, such as renewal of their license or registration, in order to continue engaging in such business activities. Financial institutions that are not licensed Financial Investment Companies are not permitted to engage in any Financial Investment Business, subject to the following exceptions: (i) banks and insurance companies are permitted to engage in certain categories of Financial Investment Business for a period not exceeding six months commencing on the effective date of the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act; and (ii) other financial institutions that engaged in any Financial Investment Business prior to the effective date of the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act (whether in the form of a concurrent business or an incidental business) are permitted to continue such Financial Investment Business for a period not exceeding six months commencing on the effective date of the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act.
Expanded Business Scope of Financial Investment Companies
Under the previous regulatory regime in Korea, it was difficult for a financial institution to explore a new line of business or expand upon its existing line of business. For example, previously a financial institution licensed as a securities company generally was not permitted to engage in the asset management business. In contrast, under the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act, pursuant to the integration of its current businesses involving financial investment products into a single Financial Investment Business, a licensed Financial Investment Company is permitted to engage in all types of Financial Investment Businesses, subject to satisfying relevant regulations (for example, maintaining an adequate “Chinese Wall,” to the extent required). As to incidental businesses (that is, a financial related business which is not a Financial Investment Business), the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act generally allows a Financial Investment Company to freely engage in such incidental businesses by shifting away from the previous positive-list system towards a more comprehensive system. In addition, a Financial Investment Company is permitted to (i) outsource marketing activities by contracting “introducing brokers” that are individuals but not employees of the Financial Investment Company, (ii) engage in foreign exchange businesses related to their Financial Investment Business and (iii) participate in the settlement network, pursuant to an agreement among the settlement network participants.
Improvement in Investor Protection Mechanism
While the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act widens the scope of financial businesses in which financial institutions are permitted to engage, a more rigorous investor-protection mechanism is also imposed upon Financial Investment Companies dealing in financial investment products. The Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act distinguishes general investors from sophisticated investors and
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provides new or enhanced protections to general investors. For instance, the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act expressly provides for a strictknow-your-customer rule for general investors and imposes an obligation that Financial Investment Companies should market financial investment products suitable to each general investor, using written explanatory materials. Under the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act, a Financial Investment Company could be liable if a general investor proves (i) damage or losses relating to such general investor’s investment in financial investment products solicited by such Financial Investment Company and (ii) the absence of the requisite written explanatory materials, without having to prove fault or causation. With respect to conflicts of interest between Financial Investment Companies and investors, the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act expressly requires (i) disclosure of any conflict of interest to investors and (ii) mitigation of conflicts of interest to a comfortable level or abstention from the relevant transaction.
Other Changes to Securities / Fund Regulations
The Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act changed various securities regulations including those relating to public disclosure, insider trading and proxy contests, which were previously governed by the Korean Securities Exchange Act. For example, the 5% and 10% reporting obligations under the Korean Securities Exchange Act have become more stringent. The Indirect Investment and Asset Management Business Act strictly limited the kind of vehicles that could be utilized under a collective investment scheme, restricting the range of potential vehicles to trusts and corporations, and the type of funds that can be used for investments. However, under the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act, these restrictions have been significantly liberalized, permitting all vehicles that may be created under Korean law, such as limited liability companies or partnerships, to be used for the purpose of collective investments and allowing investment funds to be more flexible as to their investments.
Act on the Corporate Governance of Financial Companies
The Act on the Corporate Governance of Financial Companies, which became effective on August 1, 2016, was enacted to address the need for strengthened regulations on corporate governance of financial institutions and to serve as a uniform set of regulations on corporate governance matters applicable to financial institutions across a variety of industry sectors. It contains several key measures, including (i) eligibility requirements for officers of financial institutions and standards for determining whether officers of financial institutions may hold concurrent positions in other companies, (ii) standards for composition and operation of the board of directors of financial institutions, (iii) standards for establishment, composition and operation of various committees of the board of directors of financial institutions, (iv) regulations on internal control and risk management, (v) requirements and procedures for the approval of a change of major shareholders and (vi) special regulations to protect the rights of minority shareholders of financial institutions.
Environment
In 2015, our operations became subject to the Framework Act on Low Carbon, Green Growth, which was enacted in April 2010, and the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading System Act, which was enacted in May 2012. The Framework Act on Low Carbon, Green Growth and the regulations thereunder establish the greenhouse gas target management system, which requires companies to establish and achieve greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption targets on an annual basis. The Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading System Act and the regulations thereunder establish the Korean emissions trading scheme, under which companies are allocated a limited volume of emission allowances and are allowed to trade excess emission allowances.
We actively seek to engage in environmentally responsible management of our operations. We have developed a program for our operations to achieve energy efficiency objectives and reduce our greenhouse gas emissions to lessen our impact on the environment.
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The following chart provides an overview of our structure, including our significant subsidiaries and our ownership of such subsidiaries as of the date of this annual report:
Our largest subsidiary is Kookmin Bank, the assets of which represented approximately 74.4% of our total assets as of December 31, 2018. The following table provides summary information for our operating subsidiaries that are consolidated in our consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2018, including their consolidated total assets, operating revenue, profit (loss) and total equity:
Kookmin Bank
KB Securities Co., Ltd.
KB Insurance Co., Ltd.
KB Kookmin Card Co., Ltd.
KB Life Insurance Co., Ltd.
KB Asset Management Co., Ltd.
KB Capital Co., Ltd.
KB Savings Bank Co., Ltd.
KB Real Estate Trust Co., Ltd.
KB Investment Co., Ltd.
KB Credit Information Co., Ltd.
KB Data Systems Co., Ltd.
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Further information regarding our subsidiaries is provided below:
Kookmin Bank was established in Korea in 2001 as a result of the merger of the former Kookmin Bank (established in 1963) and H&CB (established in 1967). Kookmin Bank provides a wide range of banking and other financial services to individuals, small- andmedium-sized enterprises and large corporations in Korea. As of December 31, 2018, Kookmin Bank was one of the largest commercial banks in Korea based upon total assets (including loans) and deposits. As of December 31, 2018, Kookmin Bank had approximately 31.0 million customers, with 1,057 branches nationwide.
KB Securities Co., Ltd., formerly known as Hyundai Securities Co., Ltd., was established in Korea in 1962 to provide various securities brokerage and investment banking services. In 2016, we acquired 100% of the outstanding shares of Hyundai Securities, merged another subsidiary, KB Investment & Securities Co., Ltd., with and into Hyundai Securities and changed the name of the surviving entity to KB Securities Co., Ltd.
KB Insurance Co., Ltd., formerly known as LIG Insurance Co., Ltd., was established in Korea in January 1959 to provide non-life insurance products. KB Insurance became our wholly-owned subsidiary in July 2017 after a series of stock purchases, a tender offer and a comprehensive stock swap.
KB Kookmin Card Co., Ltd. was established in March 2011 as a separate entity upon the completion of a horizontal spin-off of Kookmin Bank’s credit card business, to provide credit card services.
KB Life Insurance Co., Ltd. was established in Korea in April 2004 to provide life insurance and wealth management products primarily through our branch network.
KB Asset Management Co., Ltd. was established in Korea in April 1988 as a subsidiary of Citizens Investment Trust Company to provide investment advisory services.
KB Capital Co., Ltd., which provides leasing services and installment finance services, was formerly known as Woori Financial Co., Ltd. and was acquired by us in March 2014. KB Capital became our wholly-owned subsidiary in July 2017 after a tender offer followed by a comprehensive stock swap.
KB Savings Bank Co., Ltd. was established in Korea in January 2012 to provide small-loan finance services. KB Savings Bank was established in connection with our purchase of assets and assumption of liabilities of Jeil Savings Bank in January 2012. We acquired Yehansoul Savings Bank, which provided small-loan finance services, in September 2013 and merged it with KB Savings Bank in January 2014, with KB Savings Bank as the surviving entity.
KB Real Estate Trust Co., Ltd. was established in Korea in December 1996 to provide real estate development and brokerage services by managing trusts related to the real estate industry.
KB Investment Co., Ltd. was established in Korea in March 1990 to invest in and finance small- and medium-sized enterprises.
KB Credit Information Co., Ltd. was established in Korea in October 1999 to collect delinquent loans and to check credit history.
KB Data Systems Co., Ltd. was established in Korea in September 1991 to provide software services to us and other financial institutions.
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Our registered office and corporate headquarters are located at 26, Gukjegeumyung-ro 8-gil, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul 07331, Korea. The following table presents information regarding certain of our properties in Korea:
Type of facility/building
Location
Registered office and corporate headquarters and Kookmin Bank headquarters
KB Kookmin Card headquarters building
Kookmin Bank training institute
Kookmin Bank IT center
Kookmin Bank support center
KB Securities training institute
In addition, we entered into a land purchase agreement in March 2016 to purchase a site of approximately 4,727 square meters located in Yeouido, Seoul, on which we plan to construct a new headquarters building for Kookmin Bank (with a floor space of approximately 67,683 square meters). We anticipate that our total capital expenditures for the construction of the building, which is scheduled to be completed in 2020, will amount to approximately ￦425 billion, of which an aggregate amount of ￦171 billion was incurred as of December 31, 2018. We also entered into a land purchase agreement in August 2016 to purchase a site of approximately 13,144 square meters located in Gimpo, in the outskirts of Seoul, in order to construct a new IT center for Kookmin Bank (with a floor space of approximately 40,232 square meters). We anticipate that our total capital expenditures for the construction of the IT center, which is scheduled to be completed in 2019, will amount to approximately ￦229 billion, of which an aggregate amount of ￦78 billion was incurred as of December 31, 2018.
As of December 31, 2018, we had a countrywide network of 1,057 banking branches and sub-branches, as well as 520 branches and sub-branches and 58 representative offices for our other operations including our credit card, securities brokerage, insurance and consumer finance businesses. Approximately one-quarter of these facilities are housed in buildings owned by us, while the remaining branches are leased properties. Lease terms are generally from two to three years and seldom exceed five years. We have subsidiaries in Cambodia, Singapore, Hong Kong, China, Myanmar, Vietnam, Laos, Indonesia and the United States. We also have branches of Kookmin Bank in Tokyo in Japan, Auckland in New Zealand, New York in the United States, London in the United Kingdom, Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam and Hong Kong, branches of Kookmin Bank Cambodia PLC in Toul Kork, Toul Tom Pounh, Tuek Thla, Stueng Meanchey and Chbar Ampov in Cambodia, branches of KB Microfinance Myanmar Co., Ltd. in Hlaingtharya, Shwepyithar, Thanlyin, Pyinmana, Twantay, Magway and Thaketa in Myanmar, branches of Kookmin Bank (China) Ltd. in Beijing, Guangzhou, Harbin, Shanghai and Suzhou in China, branches of KB Securities Vietnam Joint Stock Company in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, a branch of Kookmin Best Insurance Co., Ltd. in New Jersey in the United States, a branch of LIG Insurance (China) Co., Ltd. in Guangzhou in China and branches of PT. KB Insurance Indonesia in Kebon Jeruk and Jayakarta in Indonesia. Kookmin Bank International Ltd., previously one of our operating subsidiaries, was converted to a branch in May 2018. We also have representative offices of Kookmin Bank in Gurgaon in India, Yangon in Myanmar and Hanoi in Vietnam, a representative office of KB Securities in Shanghai in China, a representative office of KB Kookmin Card in Yangon in Myanmar and liaison offices of KB Insurance in Los Angeles in the United States and in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. We do not own any material properties outside of Korea.
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The net carrying amount of all the properties owned by us at December 31, 2018 was ￦3,762 billion.
We do not have any unresolved comments from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission staff regarding our periodic reports under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act.
The following discussion is based on our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with IFRS as issued by the IASB. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of subsidiaries over which substantive control is exercised through majority ownership of voting stock and/or other means. Investments in jointly controlled entities and associates (which are companies over which we have the ability to exercise significant influence) are accounted for by the equity method of accounting.
Trends in the Korean Economy
Our financial position and results of operations have been and will continue to be significantly affected by financial and economic conditions in Korea. In recent years, commercial banks, consumer finance companies and other financial institutions in Korea have made significant investments and engaged in aggressive marketing in retail lending (including mortgage and home equity loans), leading to substantially increased competition in this segment. From the second half of 2016 to 2018, the Korean government introduced various measures to tighten regulations on mortgage lending and housing subscription in response to the rapid growth in consumer debt and concerns over speculative investments in real estate in certain areas. Notwithstanding such measures, demand for residential property in certain areas, including Seoul, has continued to increase, and our portfolio of retail loans increased from ￦134,956 billion as of December 31, 2016 to ￦146,150 billion as of December 31, 2017 and ￦158,761 billion as of December 31, 2018. Nevertheless, a decrease in housing prices as a result of the implementation of such measures, together with the high level of consumer debt and rising interest rate levels, could result in declines in consumer spending and reduced economic growth, which may lead to increases in delinquency levels of our portfolio of retail loans. In 2018, we recorded charge-offs of ￦381 billion and reversal of provisions for loan losses of ￦270 billion in respect of our retail loan portfolio, compared to charge-offs of ￦342 billion and provision for loan losses of ￦233 billion in 2017 and charge-offs of ￦295 billion and provision for loan losses of ￦82 billion in 2016. See “Item 3.D. Risk Factors—Risks relating to our retail credit portfolio.”
Our loans to small- andmedium-sized enterprises increased from ￦86,065 billion as of December 31, 2016 to ￦106,015 billion as of December 31, 2018. Substantial growth in lending in Korea to small- and medium-sized enterprises in recent years, and financial difficulties experienced by such enterprises as a result of, among other things, adverse changes in economic conditions in Korea and globally, may lead to increasing delinquencies and a deterioration in overall asset quality in the credit exposures of Korean banks to small- and medium-sized enterprises. In 2018, we recorded charge-offs of ￦35 billion in respect of our loans to small- and medium-sized enterprises, compared to charge-offs of ￦308 billion in 2017 and ￦467 billion in 2016. See “Item 3.D. Risk Factors—Risks relating to our small- and medium-sized enterprise loan portfolio—We have significant exposure to small- andmedium-sized enterprises, and any financial difficulties experienced by these customers may result in a deterioration of our asset quality and have an adverse impact on us.”
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The Korean economy is closely tied to, and is affected by developments in, the global economy. The overall prospects for the Korean and global economy remain uncertain. In recent years, the global financial markets have experienced significant volatility as a result of, among other things:
uncertainty regarding the timing and method of Brexit;
In addition, the global economy faces a number of uncertainties in 2019, including due to the possibility of higher inflation pressures in the United States and elsewhere, which may lead to corrections in the global financial markets, and credit risks arising from yield-seeking investors increasing their exposure to lower-rated corporate and sovereign borrowers, as well as escalations in trade protectionism globally and geopolitical tensions in East Asia and the Middle East. In light of the high level of interdependence of the global economy, unfavorable changes in the global financial markets, including as a result of any of the foregoing developments, could have a material adverse effect on the Korean economy and financial markets, and in turn on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
As a result of uncertain conditions in the Korean and global economies and financial markets, as well as factors such as fluctuations in oil and commodity prices, interest and exchange rate fluctuations, higher unemployment, lower consumer confidence, stock market volatility, potential tightening of fiscal and monetary policies and continued tensions with North Korea, the economic outlook for the financial services sector in Korea in 2019 and for the foreseeable future remains uncertain.
Acquisitions
In recent years, we have engaged in a number of acquisitions, which have affected, and may continue to affect, our results of operations and their comparability from period to period.
In March 2014, we acquired 52.02% of the outstanding shares of Woori Financial Co., Ltd., a publicly listed Korean consumer finance company, from Woori Finance Holdings Co., Ltd. for ￦280 billion, and subsequently renamed the entity KB Capital Co., Ltd. As a result, KB Capital became a consolidated subsidiary. We conducted a tender offer in May 2017, through which we acquired 5,949,300 shares of KB Capital at ￦27,500 per share, increasing our shareholding in KB Capital to 79.70%. We subsequently acquired the remaining outstanding
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shares of KB Capital in exchange for 2,269,057 shares of common stock of our company through a comprehensive stock swap effected in July 2017, as a result of which KB Capital became a wholly-owned subsidiary. As of December 31, 2018, KB Capital had total assets of ￦9,517 billion and total equity of ￦1,000 billion, and in 2018, its total revenues amounted to ￦734 billion and its profit for the year amounted to ￦112 billion.
In June 2015, we acquired 19.47% of the outstanding shares of LIG Insurance Co., Ltd., a publicly listed Korean non-life insurance company, from a group of individual shareholders for ￦651 billion, and subsequently renamed the entity KB Insurance Co., Ltd. In November 2015, we increased our shareholding in KB Insurance to 33.29% by acquiring its treasury shares for ￦231 billion, and in December 2016, we further increased our shareholding to 39.81% by purchasing new shares of KB Insurance for ￦171 billion in a rights offering. Subsequently, through a tender offer conducted in May 2017, we acquired 36,237,649 shares of KB Insurance at ￦33,000 per share, increasing our shareholding to 94.30%, as a result of which KB Insurance became a consolidated subsidiary. In July 2017, we effected a comprehensive stock swap to acquire the remaining outstanding shares of KB Insurance in exchange for 2,170,943 shares of common stock of our company, as a result of which KB Insurance became a wholly-owned subsidiary. In connection with our acquisition of additional shares of KB Insurance in May 2017, we recognized ￦2,434 billion of intangible assets, consisting mainly of the value of business acquired, which represents the difference between the fair value of KB Insurance’s insurance contract liabilities acquired and their book value as of the acquisition date. The value of business acquired is amortized over an estimated useful life of 60 years using the declining balance method, and the related amortization expense is recorded as part of our insurance expense. See Notes 3.10 and 15 of the notes to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this annual report. As of December 31, 2018, KB Insurance had total assets of ￦34,786 billion and total equity of ￦3,496 billion, and in 2018, its total revenues amounted to ￦11,978 billion and its profit for the year amounted to ￦262 billion.
In addition, in May 2016, we acquired 22.56% of the outstanding shares of Hyundai Securities Co., Ltd., a publicly listed Korean securities firm, from Hyundai Merchant Marine Co., Ltd. and other shareholders for ￦1,242 billion, and further increased our shareholding in Hyundai Securities to 29.62% in June 2016 by acquiring treasury shares of Hyundai Securities for ￦107 billion. In October 2016, we increased our shareholding in Hyundai Securities to 100% by effecting a comprehensive stock swap of the outstanding shares of Hyundai Securities for 31,759,844 newly issued shares of common stock of our company, as a result of which Hyundai Securities became a consolidated subsidiary. In connection with such comprehensive stock swap, we recognized gains on bargain purchase of ￦629 billion, representing the excess of the total identifiable net assets of Hyundai Securities over the total consideration transferred (consisting of the sum of the fair value of our holdings of Hyundai Securities shares at the time of the comprehensive stock swap and the value of our common shares issued in the comprehensive stock swap), which was recorded as part of our non-operating income for 2016. Following such transaction, we merged an existing subsidiary, KB Investment & Securities, with and into Hyundai Securities in December 2016 and changed the name of the surviving entity to KB Securities Co., Ltd. As of December 31, 2018, KB Securities had total assets of ￦45,086 billion and total equity of ￦4,473 billion, and in 2018, its total revenues amounted to ￦6,667 billion and its profit for the year amounted to ￦179 billion.
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Changes in Securities Values, Exchange Rates and Interest Rates
Fluctuations of exchange rates, interest rates and stock prices affect, among other things, the demand for our products and services, the value of and rate of return on our assets, the availability and cost of funding and the financial condition of our customers. The following table shows, for the dates indicated, the stock price index of all equities listed on the KRX KOSPI Market as published in the KOSPI, the Won to U.S. dollar exchange rates and benchmark Won borrowing interest rates.
KOSPI
￦/US$ exchange rates(1)
Corporate bond rates(2)
Treasury bond rates(3)
Represents the noon buying rate on the dates indicated.
Measured by the yield on three-year Korean corporate bonds rated as A+ by the Korean credit rating agencies.
Measured by the yield on three-year treasury bonds issued by the Ministry of Economy and Finance of Korea.
As of December 30, 2014, the last day of trading for the KRX KOSPI Market in 2014.
As of December 30, 2015, the last day of trading for the KRX KOSPI Market in 2015.
As of December 29, 2016, the last day of trading for the KRX KOSPI Market in 2016.
As of December 28, 2017, the last day of trading for the KRX KOSPI Market in 2017.
As of December 31, 2018, the last day of trading for the KRX KOSPI Market in 2018.
Changes in Accounting Policies
Adoption of IFRS 9
IFRS 9, issued by the IASB in July 2014, is a new IFRS accounting standard aimed at improving and simplifying the accounting treatment of financial instruments and is effective for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2018. IFRS 9, which replaces IAS 39, requires all financial assets to be classified and measured on the basis of an entity’s business model for managing financial assets and the contractual cash flow characteristics of the financial assets. A new impairment model is introduced which requires recording of allowance for credit losses based on expected credit losses instead of incurred losses (as was the case under IAS 39), and recognition of any subsequent changes in expected credit losses in profit or loss. Also, hedge accounting rules are amended to allow more hedging instruments and hedged items to qualify for hedge accounting. The impact on our financial statements due to the application of IFRS 9 depends on judgments made by us in applying the new standard, the nature of financial instruments held by us and macroeconomic variables.
We have applied IFRS 9 in our consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2018 included elsewhere in this annual report. As permitted by the transition rules of IFRS 9, our consolidated financial statements as of and for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2017 included elsewhere in this annual report have not been restated to retroactively apply IFRS 9.
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The classification of financial assets in accordance with IAS 39 and IFRS 9 as of January 1, 2018 is as follows:
Classification according to IAS 39 (as of December 31, 2017)(1)
Classification according to IFRS 9 (as of January 1, 2018)(1)
Financial assets at amortized cost
Financial assets held for trading: debt securities
Financial assets held for trading: equity securities
Financial assets held for trading: others
Financial assets designated at fair value through profit or loss(2)
Derivative financial instruments held for trading
Derivative instruments designated for hedging
Available-for-sale financial assets: debt securities
Financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income
Available-for-salefinancial assets: equity securities
Held-to-maturityfinancial assets
Other financial assets
Net of allowance.
Financial assets amounting to ￦2,050 billion under IAS 39, which were classified as financial assets designated at fair value through profit or loss prior to January 1, 2018, have been reclassified as financial assets at fair value through profit or loss by applying IFRS 9 without the designation of fair value option.
For additional information regarding IFRS 9 and the impact of its application to our consolidated financial statements, see Notes 2.1 and 45 of the notes to our consolidated financial statements.
Among other things, the application of IFRS 9 resulted in a one-off increase of ￦544 billion in our allowance for credit losses (and related decreases within our retained earnings) in the opening balances as of January 1, 2018 for our consolidated statement of financial position. The application of IFRS 9 may continue to result in higher impairment loss allowances that are recognized earlier, on a forward-looking basis and on a broader scope of financial instruments than was the case under IAS 39. In addition, the move from incurred to expected credit losses
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will have the potential to impact our performance under stressed economic conditions. Measurement requires increased complexity in our impairment modelling as it involves a greater degree of management judgment with respect to forward-looking information. We expect that impairment charges will tend to be more volatile as a result.
Presentation of Interest Income from Financial Assets at Fair Value through Profit or Loss
Prior to 2018, we recorded interest income from financial assets at fair value through profit or loss as part of net gains (losses) on financial assets/liabilities at fair value through profit or loss in our consolidated statements of comprehensive income. Pursuant to a change in our accounting policies which became effective as of January 1, 2018, commencing in such year, we record interest income from financial assets at fair value through profit or loss as part of interest income in our statements of comprehensive income. Interest income from financial assets at fair value through profit or loss for the years ended December 2016 and 2017 has been reclassified accordingly in our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this annual report.
For additional information regarding such change in our accounting policies, see Note 2.1 of the notes to our consolidated financial statements.
Critical Accounting Policies
The notes to our consolidated financial statements contain a summary of our significant accounting policies, including a discussion of recently issued accounting pronouncements. Certain of these policies are critical to the portrayal of our financial condition, since they require management to make difficult, complex or subjective judgments, some of which may relate to matters that are inherently uncertain. We discuss these critical accounting policies below.
Impairment of Loans and Allowances for Loan Losses
We evaluate our loan portfolio for impairment on an ongoing basis. We have established allowances for loan losses, which are available to absorb losses in our loan portfolio. If we believe that additions or changes to the allowances for loan losses are required, we record a provision for loan losses (as part of our provision for credit losses), which is treated as a charge against current income. Loan exposures that we deem to be uncollectible, including actual loan losses, net of recoveries of previously written-off amounts, are charged directly against the allowances for loan losses.
We have established our allowance for loan losses as of December 31, 2018 in accordance with IFRS 9 and as of December 31, 2016 and 2017 in accordance with IAS 39. See “—Overview—Changes in Accounting Standards—Adoption of IFRS 9.”
Our accounting policies under IFRS 9 for losses arising from the impairment of loans and allowances for loan losses are described in Note 3.6 of the notes to our consolidated financial statements. The new impairment model under IFRS 9 requires recording of allowance for credit losses based on expected losses instead of incurred losses (as was the case under IAS 39), and recognition of any subsequent changes in expected credit losses in profit or loss. Under IFRS 9, the allowance required to be established with respect to a loan or receivable is the amount of the 12-month expected credit loss or the lifetime expected credit loss for the applicable loan or receivable, according to the three stages of credit risk deterioration since initial recognition, as follows:
Stage 1 (loans and receivables for which credit risk has not significantly increased since initial recognition): the allowance for credit losses must cover expected credit losses due to possible defaults on the relevant loan or receivable within a 12-month period from the reporting date.
Stage 2 (loans and receivables for which credit risk has significantly increased since initial recognition): the allowance for credit losses must cover expected credit losses from all possible defaults during the expected lifetime of the relevant loan or receivable.
Stage 3 (credit-impaired loans and receivables): the allowance for credit losses must cover expected credit losses from all possible defaults during the expected lifetime of the relevant loan or receivable.
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At the end of every reporting period, we evaluate whether the credit risk with respect to our loans and receivables, after taking into account forward-looking information, has significantly increased since the date of their initial recognition. We distinguish between loans and receivables that are individually significant (which we assess on an individual basis) and those that are not (which we assess collectively based on homogeneous credit risk profiles) in performing such evaluation, and consider factors such as the following as indicators of a significant increase in credit risk:
payment obligations that are more than 30 days past due;
a decline in the borrower’s credit rating in excess of certain levels as compared to that at initial recognition;
a decline in ratings below certain levels in our early warning system;
the occurrence of a debt restructuring (except for impaired financial assets); and
publication of credit delinquency information regarding the borrower by the Korea Federation of Banks or certain other sources.
Expected credit losses are a probability-weighted estimate of credit losses (i.e., the present value of all cash shortfalls) over the expected life of the loan or receivable. We measure expected credit losses by reflecting supportable information that is reasonably available at the reporting date without undue cost or effort, including information about past events, current conditions and forecasts of future economic conditions.
Our consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2018 included a total allowance for credit losses of ￦2,610 billion as of that date. Our total loan charge-offs, net of recoveries, amounted to ￦651 billion, and we recorded provisions for credit losses of ￦653 billion in 2018.
We believe that the accounting estimates related to impairment of loans and receivables and our allowance for credit losses are a “critical accounting policy” because: (1) they are highly susceptible to change from period to period based on our estimates of expected credit losses relating to our loan portfolio; and (2) any significant difference between expected credit losses on loans and receivables (as reflected in our allowance for credit losses) and actual losses on loans and receivables could require us to record additional provisions for credit losses or charge-offs which, if significant, could have a material impact on our profit. Our estimates of expected credit losses require significant management judgment regarding matters such as the significance of changes in credit risk and probability of default since initial recognition. Actual losses have fluctuated in the past and are expected to continue to do so, based on a variety of factors.
Valuation of Financial Instruments
Our accounting policy for determining the fair value of financial instruments is described in Notes 3.3 and 6 of the notes to our consolidated financial statements.
The best evidence of fair value is a quoted price in an actively traded market. In the event that the market for a financial instrument is not active, a valuation technique is used. The majority of valuation techniques employ only observable market data and, as such, the reliability of the fair value measurement is high. However, certain financial instruments are valued on the basis of valuation techniques that feature one or more significant market inputs that are unobservable. Valuation techniques that rely to a greater extent on unobservable inputs require a higher level of management judgment to calculate a fair value than those based wholly on observable inputs.
Valuation techniques used to calculate fair values are discussed in Note 6.1 of the notes to our consolidated financial statements. The main assumptions and estimates which our management considers when applying a model with valuation techniques are:
The likelihood and expected timing of future cash flows on the instrument. These cash flows are usually governed by the terms of the instrument, although judgment may be required when the ability
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of the counterparty to service the instrument in accordance with the contractual terms is in doubt. Future cash flows may be sensitive to changes in market rates.
Selecting an appropriate discount rate for the instrument. The determination of this rate is based on an assessment of what a market participant would regard as the appropriate spread of the rate for the instrument over the appropriate risk-free rate.
Judgment to determine what model to use to calculate fair value in areas where the choice of valuation model is particularly subjective (for example, valuation of complex derivative products).
The financial instruments carried at fair value have been categorized under the three levels of the IFRS fair value hierarchy as follows:
Level 1: Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
Level 2: Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities.
Level 3: Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities.
The fair value hierarchy requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. Fair value is a market-based measure considered from the perspective of a market participant. As such, even when market assumptions are not readily available, our own assumptions are intended to reflect those that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability at the measurement date.
For financial instruments traded in the over-the-countermarket, we measure the fair value of such instruments as the arithmetic mean of prices obtained from Korea Asset Pricing (an affiliate of Fitch Ratings), KIS Pricing (an affiliate of Moody’s Investors Service), NICE Pricing and Information and FN Pricing, all four of which are recognized as major qualified independent pricing services in Korea. There are extremely rare cases where we do not receive price quotes from all four of the pricing services described above. In such cases, we contact the pricing service which did not submit a price quote to discuss the reason why it cannot provide a price and, following such discussion, we use the arithmetic mean of only the prices obtained from the other pricing services so long as there is no reason to believe that the prices that have been submitted are inadequate. We generally do not adjust the prices we obtain from these independent pricing services, as the variance among such prices is insignificant in most cases (primarily because most of the financial instruments we hold consist of government bonds and highly-rated corporate bonds, there is a high volume of transactions in theover-the-counter market and actual transaction prices are monitored and referenced by the pricing services).
Our consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2018 included financial assets measured at fair value using a valuation technique of ￦68,307 billion, representing 75.1% of total financial assets measured at fair value, and financial liabilities measured at fair value using a valuation technique of ￦14,925 billion, representing 81.9% of total financial liabilities measured at fair value. As used herein, the fair value using a valuation technique means the fair value at Level 2 and Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy.
We believe that the accounting estimates related to the determination of the fair value of financial instruments are a “critical accounting policy” because: (1) they may be highly susceptible to change from period to period based on factors beyond our control; and (2) any significant difference between our estimate of the fair value of these financial instruments on any particular date and either their estimated fair value on a different date or the actual proceeds that we receive upon sale of these financial instruments could result in valuation losses or losses on disposal which may have a material impact on our profit. Our assumptions about the fair value of financial instruments we hold require significant judgment because actual valuations have fluctuated in the past and are expected to continue to do so, based on a variety of factors.
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Deferred Income Tax Assets
Our accounting policy for the recognition of deferred income tax assets is described in Notes 3.22 and 16 of the notes to our consolidated financial statements. The recognition of deferred income tax assets relies on an assessment of the probability and sufficiency of future taxable profits, future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences and ongoing tax planning strategies.
We recognize deferred income tax assets and liabilities for the future tax consequences attributable to temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases, unused tax losses and unused tax credits. Deferred income tax assets are recognized only to the extent it is probable that sufficient taxable profit will be available against which those deductible temporary differences, unused tax losses or unused tax credits can be utilized. This assessment requires significant management judgment and assumptions. In determining the amount of deferred income tax assets, we use historical tax capacity and profitability information and, if relevant, forecasted operating results, based upon approved business plans, including a review of the eligible carry-forward periods, available tax planning opportunities and other relevant considerations.
Our consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2018 included deferred income tax assets and liabilities of ￦4 billion and ￦493 billion, respectively, as of that date, after offsetting of ￦1,558 billion of deferred income tax liabilities and assets.
We believe that the estimates related to our recognition and measurement of deferred income tax assets are a “critical accounting policy” because: (1) they may be highly susceptible to change from period to period based on our assumptions regarding our future profitability; and (2) any significant difference between our estimates of future profits on any particular date and estimates of such future profits on a different date could result in an income tax expense or benefit which may have a material impact on our profit from period to period. Our assumptions about our future profitability require significant judgment and are inherently subjective.
Uncertain Tax Positions
Our accounting policy for the recognition of uncertain tax positions is described in Note 3.22 of the notes to our consolidated financial statements.
We recognize our uncertain tax positions in our financial statements based on the guidance in International Accounting Standard 12, Income Taxes, which allows recognition of tax payments as current income tax assets to the extent it is probable that they will be recovered from the tax authorities.
We believe that the estimates related to our recognition and measurement of uncertain tax positions are a “critical accounting policy” because they are measured upon the facts and circumstances that exist as of each reporting period and involve significant management judgment. Subsequent changes in judgment based upon new information may lead to changes in recognition, derecognition and measurement of uncertain tax positions.
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Results of Operations
Net Interest Income
The following table shows, for the periods indicated, the principal components of our net interest income:
Interest income
Deposits at amortized cost(1)
Due from financial institutions (IAS 39)(1)
Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss(2)
Loans (IAS 39)
Financial investments (debt securities)(3)
Financial investments (debt securities) (IAS 39)(3)
Net interest income
Consists of cash and interest earning deposits in other banks.
Includes deposits and loans at fair value through profit or loss. For information on interest income arising from such financial instruments, see Note 27 of the notes to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this annual report.
Consists of our financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income and at amortized cost (or our available-for-sale and held to maturity financial asset) portfolios. For 2018 only, includes loans at fair value through other comprehensive income. For information on interest income arising from such financial instruments, see Note 27 of the notes to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this annual report.
The ratio of net interest income to average interest earning assets. See “Item 3.A. Selected Financial Data—Profitability ratios and other data.”
“N/A” means not applicable.
Comparison of 2018 to 2017
Interest income. Interest income increased 15.2% from ￦11,919 billion in 2017 to ￦13,735 billion in 2018, primarily as a result of a 14.4% increase in interest on loans, which was enhanced by a 39.3% increase in interest on financial assets at fair value through profit or loss and a 14.3% increase in interest on financial investments. The average volume of our interest earning assets increased 10.0% from ￦363,203 billion in 2017 to ￦399,368 billion in 2018, principally due to growth in our loan and financial investments portfolios. The effect of this increase was enhanced by a 16 basis point increase in the average yields on our interest earning assets from 3.28% in 2017 to 3.44% in 2018, which mainly reflected an increase in the general level of interest rates in Korea in 2018 compared to 2017.
A substantial majority of loans that were previously classified as “loans” under IAS 39 are classified since 2018 as “loans at amortized cost” under IFRS 9, while a small portion of loans that were previously classified as “loans” under IAS 39 are classified since 2018 as “financial assets at fair value through profit or loss” or
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“financial investments (debt securities).” See “—Overview—Changes in Accounting Policies—Adoption of IFRS 9.” The 14.4% increase in interest on loans from ￦10,096 billion in 2017 to ￦11,552 billion in 2018 was primarily the result of:
a 9.7% increase in the average volume of corporate loans from ￦123,004 billion in 2017 to ￦134,938 billion in 2018, which was enhanced by a 9 basis point increase in the average yields on such loans from 3.22% in 2017 to 3.31% in 2018;
a 13.0% increase in the average volume of other consumer loans from ￦46,325 billion in 2017 to ￦52,333 billion in 2018, which was enhanced by a 19 basis point increase in the average yields on such loans from 4.57% in 2017 to 4.76% in 2018;
a 27 basis point increase in the average yields on mortgage loans from 2.76% in 2017 to 3.03% in 2018, which was enhanced by an 8.0% increase in the average volume of such loans from ￦60,944 billion in 2017 to ￦65,799 billion in 2018; and
a 12.4% increase in the average volume of credit card receivables from ￦14,881 billion in 2017 to ￦16,725 billion in 2018, which was partially offset by a 16 basis point decrease in the average yields on such receivables from 8.45% in 2017 to 8.29% in 2018.
The increase in the average volumes of corporate loans, other consumer loans and mortgage loans was mainly due to increased demand from borrowers in anticipation of further increases in the general level of interest rates in Korea, as well as the full-year effect of the addition of such loans of KB Insurance (which became a consolidated subsidiary in May 2017) to our loan portfolio. The increase in the average volume of credit card receivables was attributable primarily to an increase in the number of credit cards issued, as well as in the use of credit cards by our customers. The average yields on corporate loans, other consumer loans and mortgage loans increased mainly as a result of the increase in the general level of interest rates in Korea in 2018 compared to 2017, while the average yields on credit card receivables decreased primarily due to a decrease in the maximum interest rates allowed by the Korean government to be charged by credit card issuers on their credit card receivables, as well as our launch of lower interest rate credit card loan products in the second half of 2018.
Overall, the average volume of our loans increased 8.9% from ￦281,538 billion in 2017 to ￦306,710 billion in 2018, while the average yields on our loans increased by 18 basis points from 3.59% in 2017 to 3.77% in 2018.
Interest on financial assets at fair value through profit or loss under IFRS 9, compared to interest on financial assets at fair value through profit or loss under IAS 39, increased 39.3% from ￦537 billion in 2017 to ￦748 billion in 2018, primarily due to a 21.8% increase in the average volume of such financial assets from ￦22,908 billion in 2017 to ￦27,911 billion in 2018, which was enhanced by a 34 basis point increase in the average yields on such financial assets from 2.34% in 2017 to 2.68% in 2018. The increase in the average volume of such financial assets was principally due to an increase in the volume of such financial assets held by KB Securities and, to a lesser extent, the full-year effect of the addition of such financial assets of KB Insurance commencing in May 2017 to our financial assets at fair value through profit or loss portfolio. The increase in the average yields on such financial assets mainly reflected the higher interest rate environment in Korea in 2018 compared to 2017.
Our financial investments portfolio consists of financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income (or available-for-sale financial assets) and financial assets at amortized cost (orheld-to-maturity financial assets), including debt securities issued by government-owned or -controlled enterprises or financial institutions and debt securities issued by Korean banks and other financial institutions. A substantial majority of financial investments that were previously classified as “available-for-sale financial assets” under IAS 39 are classified since 2018 as “financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income” under IFRS 9, while a small portion of financial investments that were previously classified as “available-for-sale financial assets” under IAS 39 are classified since 2018 as “financial assets at fair value through profit or loss” or “financial assets at
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amortized cost” under IFRS 9. A substantial majority of financial investments that were previously classified as“held-to-maturity financial assets” under IAS 39 are classified since 2018 as “financial assets at amortized cost” under IFRS 9, while a small portion of financial investments that were previously classified as “held-to-maturity financial assets” under IAS 39 are classified since 2018 as “financial assets at fair value through profit or loss” under IFRS 9. See “—Overview—Changes in Accounting Policies—Adoption of IFRS 9.” Interest on financial investments under IFRS 9, compared to interest on financial investments under IAS 39, increased 14.2% from ￦1,160 billion in 2017 to ￦1,325 billion in 2018, primarily due to a 15.2% increase in the average volume of such financial investments from ￦49,137 billion in 2017 to ￦56,585 billion in 2018, which was offset in part by a 2 basis point decrease in the average yields on such financial investments from 2.36% in 2017 to 2.34% in 2018. The increase in the average volume of such financial investments was principally due to the full-year effect of the addition of such financial investments of KB Insurance commencing in May 2017 to our financial investments portfolio. The decrease in the average yields on such financial investments mainly reflected a general decrease in the interest rates applicable to such financial investments in Korea commencing in the second half of 2018.
Interest expense. Interest expense increased 31.5% from ￦3,672 billion in 2017 to ￦4,830 billion in 2018 primarily due to a 29.7% increase in interest expense on deposits, which was enhanced by a 30.6% increase in interest expense on debentures and a 43.3% increase in the interest on debts. The average cost of interest bearing liabilities increased by 22 basis points from 1.17% in 2017 to 1.39% in 2018, which was driven mainly by an increase in the general level of interest rates in Korea in 2018 compared to 2017. The effect of this increase was enhanced by a 10.5% increase in the average volume of interest bearing liabilities from ￦314,118 billion in 2017 to ￦347,045 billion in 2018, which principally reflected increases in the average volumes of deposits and debentures.
The 29.7% increase in interest expense on deposits from ￦2,345 billion in 2017 to ￦3,042 billion in 2018 was primarily due to a 29 basis point increase in the average cost of time deposits from 1.58% in 2017 to 1.87% in 2018, which was enhanced by a 10.6% increase in the average volume of such deposits from ￦127,478 billion in 2017 to ￦141,021 billion in 2018. The increase in the average cost of time deposits mainly reflected the higher interest rate environment in Korea in 2018 compared to 2017. The increase in the average volume of time deposits was principally due to customers’ continuing preference for low-risk products and institutions in Korea in light of the continuing uncertainty in financial markets in 2018. Overall, the average cost of our deposits increased by 19 basis points from 0.97% in 2017 to 1.16% in 2018, while the average volume of our deposits increased 8.3% from ￦241,286 billion in 2017 to ￦261,333 billion in 2018.
The 30.6% increase in interest expense on debentures from ￦880 billion in 2017 to ￦1,149 billion in 2018 was primarily due to a 21.1% increase in the average volume of debentures from ￦39,767 billion in 2017 to ￦48,147 billion in 2018, which was enhanced by a 17 basis point increase in the average cost of debentures from 2.22% in 2017 to 2.39% in 2018. The increase in the average volume of debentures was principally due to our increased use of debentures to meet our funding needs. The increase in the average cost of debentures mainly reflected the higher interest rate environment in Korea in 2018 compared to 2017.
The 43.3% increase in interest expense on debts from ￦446 billion in 2017 to ￦639 billion in 2018 was principally attributable to a 35 basis point increase in the average cost of debts from 1.35% in 2017 to 1.70% in 2018, which was enhanced by a 13.6% increase in the average volume of debts from ￦33,065 billion in 2017 to ￦37,565 billion in 2018. The increase in the average cost of debts mainly reflected the higher interest rate environment in Korea in 2018 compared to 2017, while the increase in the average volume of debts was primarily due to our increased use of debts to meet our funding needs.
Net interest margin. Net interest margin represents the ratio of net interest income to average interest earning assets. Our overall net interest margin decreased from 2.27% in 2017 to 2.23% in 2018, as an 8.0% increase in our net interest income from ￦8,247 billion in 2017 to ￦8,905 billion in 2018 was outpaced by a 10.0% increase in the average volume of our interest earnings assets from ￦363,203 billion in 2017 to
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￦399,368 billion in 2018. The growth in average interest earning assets outpaced a 10.5% increase in average interest bearing liabilities from ￦314,118 billion in 2017 to ￦347,045 billion in 2018, while the increase in interest income outpaced an increase in interest expense, resulting in an increase in net interest income. However, our net interest spread, which represents the difference between the average yield on our interest earning assets and the average cost of our interest bearing liabilities, decreased from 2.11% in 2017 to 2.05% in 2018. The decrease in our net interest spread reflected a larger increase in the average cost of our interest bearing liabilities, relative to the increase in the average yield of our interest earning assets, primarily due to the earlier adjustment of interest rates on interest earning assets compared to interest rates on interest bearing liabilities in the context of general interest rate levels in Korea which increased commencing in the second half of 2017 but started to decrease in the second half of 2018.
Comparison of 2017 to 2016
Interest income. Interest income increased 15.3% from ￦10,335 billion in 2016 to ￦11,919 billion in 2017, primarily as a result of an 11.9% increase in interest on loans, as well as a 30.3% increase in interest on financial investments and a 71.6% increase in interest on financial assets at fair value through profit or loss. The average volume of our interest earning assets increased 15.4% from ￦314,747 billion in 2016 to ￦363,203 billion in 2017, principally due to growth in our loan and financial investments portfolios. The average yields on our interest earning assets remained constant at 3.28% as an increase in interest rates for loans commencing in the second half of 2017 was offset by the effects of a decrease in the general level of interest rates in Korea in 2017 compared to 2016.
The 11.9% increase in interest on loans from ￦9,021 billion in 2016 to ￦10,096 billion in 2017 was primarily the result of:
a 9.2% increase in the average volume of corporate loans from ￦112,657 billion in 2016 to ￦123,004 billion in 2017, which was enhanced by a 14 basis point increase in the average yields on such loans from 3.08% in 2016 to 3.22% in 2017;
a 17.3% increase in the average volume of other consumer loans from ￦39,506 billion in 2016 to ￦46,325 billion in 2017, which was partially offset by a 7 basis point decrease in the average yields on such loans from 4.64% in 2016 to 4.57% in 2017;
a 9.5% increase in the average volume of mortgage loans from ￦55,638 billion in 2016 to ￦60,944 billion in 2017, which was enhanced by a 2 basis point increase in the average yields on such loans from 2.74% in 2016 to 2.76% in 2017; and
a 16.0% increase in the average volume of credit card receivables from ￦12,827 billion in 2016 to ￦14,881 billion in 2017, which was partially offset by a 31 basis point decrease in the average yields on such receivables from 8.76% in 2016 to 8.45% in 2017.
The increase in the average volume of corporate loans mainly reflected our increased marketing efforts and increased demand for such loans from corporate borrowers in Korea, as well as the addition of the corporate loans of KB Insurance (which became a consolidated subsidiary in May 2017) to our corporate loan portfolio. The increase in the average volume of other consumer loans and mortgage loans mainly reflected higher demand for such loans among consumers in Korea, as well as the addition of the other consumer loans (including policy loans) and mortgage loans of KB Insurance commencing in May 2017, and the full-year effect of the addition of the other consumer loans (including margin loans) of Hyundai Securities (which became a consolidated subsidiary in October 2016), to our other consumer and mortgage loan portfolios. The increase in the average volume of credit card receivables was attributable primarily to an increase in the number of credit cards issued, as well as in the use of credit cards by our customers. The average yields on corporate loans and mortgage loans increased mainly as a result of an increase in interest rates for such loans in Korea commencing in the second half of 2017, while the average yields on other consumer loans and credit card receivables decreased primarily due to a decrease in the general level of interest rates in Korea in 2017 compared to 2016.
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Overall, the average yields on our loans increased by 9 basis points from 3.50% in 2016 to 3.59% in 2017, while the average volume of our loans increased 9.3% from ￦257,687 billion in 2016 to ￦281,538 billion in 2017.
The 30.3% increase in interest on financial investments from ￦890 billion in 2016 to ￦1,160 billion in 2017 was primarily the result of a 40.9% increase in the average volume of financial investments from ￦34,868 billion in 2016 to ￦49,137 billion in 2017, which was partially offset by a 19 basis point decrease in average yields on financial investments from 2.55% in 2016 to 2.36% in 2017. The increase in the average volume of financial investments was principally due to the addition of the financial investments of KB Insurance commencing in May 2017, and the full-year effect of the addition of the financial investments of Hyundai Securities commencing in October 2016, to our financial investments portfolio. The decrease in average yields on financial investments mainly reflected the lower interest rate environment in Korea in 2017 compared to 2016.
The 71.6% increase in interest on financial assets at fair value through profit or loss from ￦313 billion in 2016 to ￦537 billion in 2017 was primarily the result of a 68.9% increase in the average volume of such financial assets from ￦13,562 billion in 2016 to ￦22,908 billion in 2017, which was enhanced by a 3 basis point increase in average yields on such financial assets from 2.31% in 2016 to 2.34% in 2017. The increase in the average volume of such financial assets was principally due to the full-year effect of the addition of such financial assets of Hyundai Securities commencing in October 2016 to our financial assets at fair value through profit or loss portfolio. The increase in average yields on such financial assets mainly reflected an increase in interest rates for such financial assets in Korea commencing in the second half of 2017.
Interest expense. Interest expense increased 1.5% from ￦3,619 billion in 2016 to ￦3,672 billion in 2017 primarily due to a 54.3% increase in interest expense on debts, which was mostly offset by a 5.3% decrease in interest expense on deposits. The average volume of interest bearing liabilities increased 10.7% from ￦283,868 billion in 2016 to ￦314,118 billion in 2017, which mainly reflected an increase in the average volume of deposits and debts. The effect of this increase was mostly offset by a 10 basis point decrease in the average cost of interest bearing liabilities from 1.27% in 2016 to 1.17% in 2017, which was driven mainly by a decrease in the general level of interest rates in Korea in 2017 compared to 2016.
The 54.3% increase in interest expense on debts from ￦289 billion in 2016 to ￦446 billion in 2017 was primarily due to a 45.0% increase in the average volume of debts from ￦22,798 billion in 2016 to ￦33,065 billion in 2017, which was enhanced by an 8 basis point increase in the average cost of such debts from 1.27% in 2016 to 1.35% in 2017. The increase in the average volume of debts was principally due to the full-year effect of the addition of the debts (particularly repurchase agreements) of Hyundai Securities to our debts commencing in October 2016. The increase in the average cost of debts mainly reflected an increase in interest rates for borrowings in Korea commencing in the second half of 2017.
The 5.3% decrease in interest expense on deposits from ￦2,477 billion in 2016 to ￦2,345 billion in 2017 was primarily due to an 11 basis point decrease in the average cost of time deposits from 1.69% in 2016 to 1.58% in 2017, which was offset in part by a 1.5% increase in the average volume of such deposits from ￦125,612 billion in 2016 to ￦127,478 billion in 2017. The decrease in the average cost of time deposits mainly reflected the lower interest rate environment in Korea in 2017 compared to 2016. The increase in the average volume of time deposits was principally due to an increase in time deposits for corporate customers. Overall, the average cost of our deposits decreased by 12 basis points from 1.09% in 2016 to 0.97% in 2017, while the average volume of our deposits increased 6.4% from ￦226,857 billion in 2016 to ￦241,286 billion in 2017.
Net interest margin. Our overall net interest margin increased from 2.13% in 2016 to 2.27% in 2017, as a 22.8% increase in our net interest income from ￦6,716 billion in 2016 to ￦8,247 billion in 2017 outpaced a 15.4% increase in the average volume of our interest earnings assets from ￦314,747 billion in 2016 to ￦363,203 billion in 2017. The growth in average interest earning assets outpaced a 10.7% increase in average
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interest bearing liabilities from ￦283,868 billion in 2016 to ￦314,118 billion in 2017, while the increase in interest income outpaced an increase in interest expense, resulting in an increase in net interest income. The magnitude of this increase was enhanced by an increase in our net interest spread from 2.01% in 2016 to 2.11% in 2017. The increase in our net interest spread reflected a decrease in the average cost of our interest bearing liabilities compared to no change in the average yield of our interest earning assets, primarily due to the earlier adjustment of interest rates on interest earning assets compared to interest rates on interest bearing liabilities in the context of general interest rate levels in Korea which decreased in 2016 but started to increase in the second half of 2017.
Provision for Credit Losses
Provision for credit losses includes provision for loan losses, provision for unused loan commitments, provision for payment guarantees, provision for financial guarantee contracts and provision for other financial assets, in each case net of reversal of provisions. For a discussion of our loan loss provisioning policy, see “Item 4.B. Business Overview—Assets and Liabilities—Loan Portfolio—Provisioning Policy.”
In accordance with the guidelines of the Financial Supervisory Service, if our provision for loan losses is deemed insufficient for regulatory purposes, we compensate for the difference by recording a regulatory reserve for credit losses, which is segregated within retained earnings. See “Item 4.B. Business Overview—Assets and Liabilities—Loan Portfolio—Regulatory Reserve for Credit Losses” and Note 26.4 of the notes to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this annual report.
Our provision for credit losses increased 23.0% from ￦548 billion in 2017 to ￦674 billion in 2018, primarily due to increases in provisions for loan losses in respect of our credit card receivables and, to a lesser extent, our retail loans. Such increases resulted mainly from an overall deterioration in the asset quality of our credit card receivables and retail loans, as well as increases in the outstanding volumes of such receivables and loans. Such increases were offset in part by a decrease in provision for loans losses in respect of our corporate loans, which resulted primarily from an improvement in the overall asset quality of our corporate loan portfolio.
Our write-offs decreased 5.1% from ￦1,137 billion in 2017 to ￦1,079 billion in 2018, primarily due to a decrease in write-offs of corporate loans.
Our reversal of provision for payment guarantees and unused loan commitments decreased 74.9% from ￦44 billion in 2017 to ￦11 billion in 2018, due mainly to a change in provision for unused loan commitments from a reversal of provision of ￦10 billion in 2017 to a provision of ￦15 billion in 2018.
Our provision for credit losses increased 1.7% from ￦539 billion in 2016 to ￦548 billion in 2017, primarily due to an increase in provision for loan losses in respect of our retail loans. Such increase resulted mainly from an increase in the volume of our outstanding retail loans, as well as higher net write-offs of such loans. Such increase was offset in part by a decrease in provision for loan losses in respect of our corporate loans, which resulted primarily from an improvement in the overall asset quality of our corporate loan portfolio, including a decrease in impaired corporate loans.
Our write-offs, net of recoveries, decreased 34.5% from ￦884 billion in 2016 to ￦578 billion in 2017, primarily due to a decrease in write-offs of corporate loans and an increase in recoveries from written-off corporate loans.
Our reversal of provision for acceptances and guarantees and unused loan commitments increased 12.8% from ￦39 billion in 2016 to ￦44 billion in 2017, due mainly to an increase in reversal of provision for unused loan commitments.
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Allowances for Loan Losses
We establish allowances for loan losses with respect to loans to absorb such losses. We assess individually significant loans on a case-by-case basis and other loans on a collective basis. For further information on allowances for loan losses, see “—Critical Accounting Policies—Impairment of Loans and Allowances for Loan Losses” and “Item 4.B. Business Overview—Assets and Liabilities—Loan Portfolio—Allocation and Analysis of Allowances for Loan Losses.”
Corporate Loans. The following table shows, for the periods indicated, certain information regarding our impaired corporate loans:
Impaired corporate loans as a percentage of total corporate loans
Allowances for loan losses for corporate loans as a percentage of total corporate loans
Allowances for loan losses for corporate loans as a percentage of impaired corporate loans
Net charge-offs of corporate loans as a percentage of total corporate loans
During 2018, impaired corporate loans as a percentage of total corporate loans decreased primarily due to a decrease in our impaired corporate loans, which mainly reflected our efforts to improve the asset quality of our corporate loan portfolio, as well as an increase in our total corporate loans. Allowances for loan losses for corporate loans as a percentage of total corporate loans remained constant, while allowances for loan losses for corporate loans as a percentage of impaired corporate loans increased during 2018, reflecting an increase in allowances for loan losses principally as a result of the application of the expected loss methodology in establishing such allowances under IFRS 9.
During 2017, both impaired corporate loans and allowances for loan losses for corporate loans, as a percentage of total corporate loans, decreased primarily due to a decrease in our impaired corporate loans, which mainly reflected our efforts to improve the asset quality of our corporate loan portfolio, as well as an increase in our total corporate loans. Such decrease in our impaired corporate loans outpaced a decrease in allowances for loan losses for corporate loans, which caused the level of allowances for loan losses for corporate loans as a percentage of impaired corporate loans to increase during 2017.
During 2016, both impaired corporate loans and allowances for loan losses for corporate loans, as a percentage of total corporate loans, decreased primarily due to a decrease in our impaired corporate loans, which mainly reflected our efforts to improve the asset quality of our corporate loan portfolio, as well as an increase in our total corporate loans. Such decrease in our impaired corporate loans outpaced a decrease in allowances for loan losses for corporate loans, which caused the level of allowances for loan losses for corporate loans as a percentage of impaired corporate loans to increase during 2016.
Retail Loans. The following table shows, for the periods indicated, certain information regarding our impaired retail loans:
Impaired retail loans as a percentage of total retail loans
Allowances for loan losses for retail loans as a percentage of total retail loans
Allowances for loan losses for retail loans as a percentage of impaired retail loans
Net charge-offs of retail loans as a percentage of total retail loans
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During 2018, impaired retail loans as a percentage of total retail loans remained constant, as an increase in our impaired retail loans, which reflected a deterioration in the overall asset quality of our retail loan portfolio, was matched by an increase in the amount of our total retail loans. Allowances for loan losses for retail loans as a percentage of both total retail loans and impaired retail loans increased during 2018, as an increase in such allowances outpaced the increases in our total retail loans and our impaired retail loans, primarily due to the application of the expected loss methodology in establishing such allowances under IFRS 9.
During 2017, both impaired retail loans and allowances for loan losses for retail loans, as a percentage of total retail loans, decreased primarily due to a decrease in our impaired retail loans, which mainly reflected higher write-offs of such loans, as well as an increase in the amount of our total retail loans. Allowances for loan losses for retail loans as a percentage of impaired retail loans increased during 2017, as the decrease in our impaired retail loans outpaced a decrease in allowances for loan losses for retail loans.
During 2016, impaired retail loans as a percentage of total retail loans decreased slightly as the effect of a decrease in our impaired retail loans, which reflected an improvement in the asset quality of our retail loan portfolio, was enhanced by an increase in the amount of our total retail loans. Allowances for loan losses for retail loans as a percentage of total retail loans remained constant, while allowances for loan losses for retail loans as a percentage of impaired retail loans increased during 2016, as the decrease in our impaired retail loans outpaced a decrease in allowances for loan losses for retail loans.
Credit Card Balances. The following table shows, for the periods indicated, certain information regarding our impaired credit card balances:
Impaired credit card balances as a percentage of total credit card balances
Allowances for loan losses for credit card balances as a percentage of total credit card balances
Allowances for loan losses for credit card balances as a percentage of impaired credit card balances
Net charge-offs as a percentage of total credit card balances
During 2018, impaired credit card balances as a percentage of total credit card balances increased as the rate of increase in our impaired credit card balances outpaced the rate of increase in the amount of our total credit card balances. Allowances for loan losses for credit card balances as a percentage of both total credit card balances and impaired credit card balances increased in 2018, primarily as a result of a deterioration in the asset quality of our credit card balances, including existing impaired credit card balances. Such increases also reflected the application of the expected loss methodology in establishing allowances for loan losses under IFRS 9.
During 2017, impaired credit card balances as a percentage of total credit card balances increased as the rate of increase in our impaired credit card balances outpaced the rate of increase in the amount of our total credit card balances. Allowances for loan losses for credit card balances as a percentage of both total credit card balances and impaired credit card balances decreased during 2017, primarily as a result of an improvement in the asset quality of our credit card balances that were neither past due nor impaired.
During 2016, both impaired credit card balances and allowances for loan losses for credit card balances, as a percentage of total credit card balances, decreased as the rate of increase in our impaired credit card balances and such allowances was outpaced by the rate of increase in the amount of our total credit card balances. Such increase in our impaired credit card balances outpaced the increase in allowances for loan losses for credit card balances, which caused the level of allowances for loan losses for credit card balances as a percentage of impaired credit card balances to decrease during 2016.
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Net Fee and Commission Income
The following table shows, for the periods indicated, the components of our net fee and commission income:
Our net fee and commission income increased 9.4% from ￦2,050 billion in 2017 to ￦2,243 billion in 2018, primarily due to a 23.9% decrease in fee and commission expense from ￦1,938 billion in 2017 to ￦1,474 billion in 2018, which outpaced a 6.8% decrease in fee and commission income from ￦3,988 billion in 2017 to ￦3,718 billion in 2018.
The 23.9% decrease in fee and commission expense was principally attributable to a 38.7% decrease in credit and debit card related fees and commissions paid from ￦1,482 billion in 2017 to ￦908 billion in 2018. The decrease in credit and debit card related fees and commissions paid mainly reflected the impact of our adoption of IFRS 15 in 2018, pursuant to which expenses related to fixed benefits provided to cardholders are deducted from both expenses and revenue as they are considered as consideration provided to customers. See Notes 2.1 and 28 of the notes to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this annual report.
The 6.8% decrease in fee and commission income was primarily due to a 26.4% decrease in credit and debit card related fees and commissions received from ￦1,848 billion in 2017 to ￦1,361 billion in 2018. The decrease in credit and debit card related fees and commissions received mainly reflected the impact of our adoption of IFRS 15, as discussed above. Such decrease in credit and debit card related fees and commissions received was partially offset by a 71.5% increase in lease fees received from ￦144 billion in 2017 to ￦247 billion in 2018, principally as a result of an increase in automobile rental and lease fees received by KB Capital.
Our net fee and commission income increased 29.3% from ￦1,585 billion in 2016 to ￦2,050 billion in 2017, primarily due to a 26.6% increase in fee and commission income from ￦3,151 billion in 2016 to ￦3,988 billion in 2017, which was offset in part by a 23.8% increase in fee and commission expense from ￦1,566 billion in 2016 to ￦1,938 billion in 2017.
The 26.6% increase in fee and commission income was mainly the result of increases in securities brokerage fees, credit card related fees and commissions and trust and other fiduciary fees. Securities brokerage fees increased 190.3% from ￦155 billion in 2016 to ￦450 billion in 2017 primarily due to the full-year effect of the addition of the securities brokerage fees of Hyundai Securities (which became a consolidated subsidiary in October 2016) to our fee and commission income, as well as the continued growth of our securities brokerage business in 2017. Credit card related fees and commissions received increased 15.0% from ￦1,259 billion in 2016 to ￦1,448 billion in 2017 primarily as a result of an increase in the number of credit cards issued, as well as in the use of credit cards by our customers. Trust and other fiduciary fees increased 61.6% from ￦219 billion in 2016 to ￦354 billion in 2017 mainly due to an increase in trust fees, primarily reflecting an increase in our sales of money trust products.
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The 23.8% increase in fee and commission expense was primarily due to a 22.5% increase in credit card related fees and commissions paid from ￦1,210 billion in 2016 to ￦1,482 billion in 2017. The increase in credit card related fees and commissions paid mainly reflected the increases in the number and use of our credit cards, as well as an increase in credit card marketing expenses.
For further information regarding our net fee and commission income, see Note 28 of the notes to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this annual report.
Net Insurance Income
The following table shows, for the periods indicated, the components of our net insurance income:
Insurance income(1)
Insurance expense(1)
Net insurance income (expense)(1)
Commencing in 2017, insurance income and expense (comprising insurance income and expense of KB Life Insurance and KB Kookmin Card, as well as insurance income and expense of KB Insurance from the date of its consolidation in May 2017) are recorded as separate line items, instead of as part of other operating income and expenses. Insurance income and expense of KB Life Insurance and KB Kookmin Card for prior years have been reclassified accordingly.
“N/M” means not meaningful.
Our net insurance income decreased 17.5% from ￦594 billion in 2017 to ￦490 billion in 2018, primarily due to a 37.1% increase in insurance expense from ￦8,377 billion in 2017 to ￦11,485 billion in 2018, which outpaced a 33.5% increase in insurance income from ￦8,971 billion in 2017 to ￦11,975 billion in 2018.
The increase in insurance expense was principally attributable to increases in insurance claims paid and refunds of surrender value of our insurance policies. Insurance claims paid increased 49.9% from ￦2,945 billion in 2017 to ￦4,416 billion in 2018, and refunds of surrender value of our insurance policies increased 30.2% from ￦2,194 billion in 2017 to ￦2,856 billion in 2018, primarily due to the full-year effect of the addition of such claims paid and refunds of KB Insurance commencing in May 2017 to our insurance expense.
The increase in insurance income was mainly due to an increase in premium income. Premium income increased 30.3% from ￦8,235 billion in 2017 to ￦10,730 billion in 2018, principally as a result of the full-year effect of the addition of the premium income of KB Insurance commencing in May 2017 to our insurance income.
Our net insurance income (expense) changed from an expense of ￦118 billion in 2016 to income of ￦594 billion in 2017, primarily due to a significant increase in insurance income from ￦1,201 billion in 2016 to ￦8,971 billion in 2017, which was offset in part by a significant increase in insurance expense from ￦1,319 billion in 2016 to ￦8,377 billion in 2017.
The increase in insurance income was mainly due to increases in premium income and reinsurance income. Premium income increased significantly from ￦1,190 billion in 2016 to ￦8,235 billion in 2017, while reinsurance income increased significantly from ￦11 billion in 2016 to ￦565 billion in 2017. Such increases were attributable primarily to the addition of the premium and reinsurance income of KB Insurance (which became a consolidated subsidiary in May 2017) to our insurance income.
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The increase in insurance expense was primarily due to increases in insurance claims paid, refunds of surrender value and provision of policy reserves. Insurance claims paid increased significantly from ￦159 billion in 2016 to ￦2,945 billion in 2017, refunds of surrender value increased 218.0% from ￦690 billion in 2016 to ￦2,194 billion in 2017, and provision of policy reserves increased 349.2% from ￦366 billion in 2016 to ￦1,644 billion in 2017. Such increases were attributable mainly to the addition of the insurance claims paid, refunds of surrender value and provision of policy reserves of KB Insurance to our insurance expense commencing in May 2017.
Net Gain (Loss) on Financial Assets and Liabilities at Fair Value through Profit or Loss
The following table shows, for the periods indicated, the components of our net gain on financial assets and liabilities at fair value through profit or loss:
Net gain on financial assets at fair value through profit or loss
Net gain (loss) on financial assets held-for-trading
Net gain (loss) on derivativesheld-for-trading
Net loss on financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss
Net gain (loss) on financial liabilities held-for-trading
Net loss on financial instruments designated at fair value through profit or loss (IFRS 9)
Net loss on financial instruments designated at fair value through profit or loss (IAS 39)
Net gain (loss) on financial assets and liabilities at fair value through profit or loss
Our net gain (loss) on financial assets and liabilities at fair value through profit or loss increased 73.4% from ￦203 billion in 2017 to ￦352 billion in 2018. Such increase was attributable to an increase in net gain on financial assets at fair value through profit or loss in 2018, compared to net gain on financial assets held-for-trading in 2017, as well as a decrease in net loss on financial instruments designated at fair value through profit or loss under IFRS 9 in 2018, compared to net loss on financial instruments designated at fair value through profit or loss under IAS 39 in 2017, the effects of which were partially offset by a change in net gain (loss) on derivativesheld-for-trading from a net gain in 2017 to a net loss in 2018.
Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss under IFRS 9 include all financial assets that were classified as financial assets held-for-trading under IAS 39 in 2017, as well as certain other financial assets that were classified as available-for-sale financial assets, cash and due from financial institutions, loans and held-to-maturity financial assets under IAS 39 in 2017. See “—Overview—Changes in Accounting Standards—Adoption of IFRS 9.” Our net gain on financial assets at fair value through profit or loss increased significantly to ￦790 billion in 2018, compared to net gain on financial assets held-for-trading of ￦67 billion in 2017, mainly due to a change in net gain (loss) on debt securities from a net loss of ￦125 billion in 2017 to a net gain of ￦695 billion in 2018, which was partially offset by a 50.5% decrease in net gain on equity securities from ￦192 billion in 2017 to ￦95 billion in 2018.
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Our net loss on financial instruments designated at fair value through profit or loss under IFRS 9 decreased 87.9% to ￦93 billion in 2018, compared to net loss on financial instruments designated at fair value through profit or loss under IAS 39 of ￦741 billion in 2017, principally as a result of an 88.3% decrease in net loss on financial liabilities designated at fair value through profit or loss from ￦792 billion in 2017 to ￦93 billion in 2018.
Our net gain (loss) on derivativesheld-for-trading changed from a net gain of ￦906 billion in 2017 to a net loss of ￦283 billion in 2018, primarily due to a change in net gain (loss) on stock or stock index derivatives held-for-trading from a net gain of ￦649 billion in 2017 to a net loss of ￦243 billion in 2018, which was enhanced by a change in net gain (loss) on interest rate derivatives held-for-trading from a net gain of ￦127 billion in 2017 to a net loss of ￦281 billion in 2018.
Our net gain (loss) on financial assets and liabilities at fair value through profit or loss changed from a net loss of ￦322 billion in 2016 to a net gain of ￦203 billion in 2017. Such change was primarily attributable to an increase in net gain on derivativesheld-for-trading and a change from a net loss on financial assets held-for-trading to a net gain on financial assets held-for-trading, the effects of which were offset in part by an increase in net loss on financial instruments designated at fair value through profit or loss.
Our net gain on derivativesheld-for-trading increased more than five-fold from ￦173 billion in 2016 to ￦906 billion in 2017, primarily due to a 170.4% increase in net gain on stock or stock index derivatives held-for-trading from ￦240 billion in 2016 to ￦649 billion in 2017.
Our net gain (loss) on financial assetsheld-for-trading changed from a net loss of ￦115 billion in 2016 to a net gain of ￦67 billion in 2017, mainly as a result of an increase in net gain on equity securities from ￦6 billion in 2016 to ￦192 billion in 2017.
Our net loss on financial instruments designated at fair value through profit or loss increased 94.5% from ￦381 billion in 2016 to ￦741 billion in 2017, mainly due to a 61.3% increase in net loss on financial liabilities designated at fair value through profit or loss from ￦491 billion in 2016 to ￦792 billion in 2017.
Such changes were attributable in part to the full-year effect of the addition of the net gain (loss) on financial assets and liabilities at fair value through profit or loss of Hyundai Securities (which became a consolidated subsidiary in October 2016) to our net gain (loss) on such assets and liabilities.
For further information regarding our net gain (loss) on financial assets and liabilities at fair value through profit or loss, see Note 29 of the notes to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this annual report.
General and Administrative Expenses
The following table shows, for the periods indicated, the components of our general and administrative expenses:
Employee compensation and benefits
Depreciation and amortization
Other general and administrative expenses
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Our general and administrative expenses increased 5.2% from ￦5,629 billion in 2017 to ￦5,919 billion in 2018, primarily as a result of a 9.7% increase in other general and administrative expenses from ￦1,490 billion in 2017 to ￦1,635 billion in 2018, as well as a 2.8% increase in employee compensation and benefits from ￦3,769 billion in 2017 to ￦3,874 billion in 2018. The increase in other general and administrative expenses was attributable mainly to a 12.5% increase in rental expense from ￦321 billion in 2017 to ￦361 billion in 2018, and a 17.3% increase in service fees from ￦179 billion in 2017 to ￦210 billion in 2018, which were primarily due to an increase in such expense and fees of KB Securities, as well as the full-year effect of the addition of such expense and fees of KB Insurance commencing in May 2017 to our other general and administrative expenses.
The increase in employee compensation and benefits was attributable mainly to a 50.3% increase in termination benefits from ￦161 billion in 2017 to ￦242 billion in 2018, mainly due to an increase in the number of employees participating in the voluntary early retirement program implemented by Kookmin Bank. Such increase was offset in part by an 84.9% decrease in share-based payments from ￦73 billion in 2017 to ￦11 billion in 2018, which resulted mainly from a decrease in stock grants provided to employees of Kookmin Bank.
Our general and administrative expenses increased 7.6% from ￦5,229 billion in 2016 to ￦5,629 billion in 2017, primarily as a result of a 25.8% increase in other general and administrative expenses from ￦1,184 billion in 2016 to ￦1,490 billion in 2017, as well as a 28.0% increase in depreciation and amortization expenses from ￦289 billion in 2016 to ￦370 billion in 2017. The increase in other general and administrative expenses was attributable mainly to a 45.3% increase in taxes and dues from ￦135 billion in 2016 to ￦196 billion in 2017, a 40.0% increase in service fees from ￦129 billion in 2016 to ￦179 billion in 2017, and a 14.3% increase in rental expense from ￦281 billion in 2016 to ￦321 billion in 2017. Such increases were primarily due to the full-year effect of the addition of such expenses of Hyundai Securities (which became a consolidated subsidiary in October 2016), as well as the addition of such expenses of KB Insurance (which became a consolidated subsidiary in May 2017), to our general and administrative expenses. The increase in depreciation and amortization expenses was primarily due to the full-year effect of the addition of such expenses of Hyundai Securities commencing in October 2016, as well as the addition of such expenses of KB Insurance commencing in May 2017, to our depreciation and amortization expenses.
Our employee compensation and benefits increased 0.3% from ￦3,756 billion in 2016 to ￦3,769 billion, principally due to a 31.5% increase in salaries from ￦1,874 billion in 2016 to ￦2,465 billion in 2017, as well as a 12.0% increase in other short-term employee benefits from ￦734 billion in 2016 to ￦823 billion in 2017. Such increases were attributable mainly to the full-year effect of the addition of such expenses of Hyundai Securities commencing in October 2016, as well as the addition of such expenses of KB Insurance commencing in May 2017, to our employee compensation and benefits. Such increases were offset in large part by an 82.2% decrease in termination benefits from ￦903 billion in 2016 to ￦161 billion in 2017, which resulted mainly from a significant decrease in the number of employees participating in the voluntary early retirement program implemented by Kookmin Bank.
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Net Other Operating Expenses
The following table shows, for the periods indicated, the components of our net other operating expenses:
Other operating income(1)
Other operating expenses(1)
Net other operating expenses(1)
Our net other operating expenses increased 25.3% from ￦902 billion in 2017 to ￦1,130 billion in 2018 as a 34.3% decrease in other operating income from ￦3,237 billion in 2017 to ￦2,127 billion in 2018 outpaced a 21.3% decrease in other operating expenses from ￦4,139 billion in 2017 to ￦3,257 billion in 2018.
Other operating income includes principally gain on foreign exchange transactions, gain on sale of financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income and other income. The 34.3% decrease in other operating income was primarily attributable to a 36.5% decrease in gain on foreign exchange transactions from ￦2,520 billion in 2017 to ￦1,600 billion in 2018. The decrease in gain on foreign exchange transactions, which was mainly the result of lower exchange rate volatility, was more than offset by a decrease in loss on foreign exchange transactions, which is recorded as part of other operating expenses. On a net basis, our net gain on foreign exchange transactions increased 27.7% from ￦47 billion in 2017 to ￦60 billion in 2018.
Other operating expenses include principally loss on foreign exchange transactions, impairment on financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income, loss on sale of financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income and other expenses. The 21.3% decrease in other operating expense was mainly the result of a 37.7% decrease in loss on foreign exchange transactions from ￦2,473 billion in 2017 to ￦1,540 billion in 2018. The decrease in loss on foreign exchange transactions, which was primarily due to lower exchange rate volatility, was partially offset by a decrease in gain on foreign exchange transactions, which is recorded as part of other operating income as discussed above.
Our net other operating expenses increased 116.8% from ￦416 billion in 2016 to ￦902 billion in 2017 as a 23.3% decrease in other operating income from ￦4,218 billion in 2016 to ￦3,237 billion in 2017 outpaced a 10.7% decrease in other operating expenses from ￦4,634 billion in 2016 to ￦4,139 billion in 2017.
Other operating income includes principally gain on foreign exchange transactions, gain on sale of available-for-sale financial assets and other income. The 23.3% decrease in other operating income was primarily attributable to a 29.4% decrease in gain on foreign exchange transactions from ￦3,568 billion in 2016 to ￦2,520 billion in 2017. The decrease in gain on foreign exchange transactions, which was mainly the result of lower exchange rate volatility, was partially offset by a decrease in loss on foreign exchange transactions, which is recorded as part of other operating expenses. On a net basis, our net gain on foreign exchange transactions decreased 82.3% from ￦265 billion in 2016 to ￦47 billion in 2017.
Other operating expenses include principally loss on foreign exchange transactions, impairment on available-for-sale financial assets, loss on sale of available-for-sale financial assets and other expenses. The
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10.7% decrease in other operating expense was mainly the result of a 25.1% decrease in loss on foreign exchange transactions from ￦3,303 billion in 2016 to ￦2,473 billion in 2017. The decrease in loss on foreign exchange transactions, which was primarily due to a decrease in the volume of our foreign currency transactions, was more than offset by a decrease in gain on foreign exchange transactions, which is recorded as part of other operating income as discussed above.
For further information regarding our net other operating expenses, see Note 30 of the notes to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this annual report.
NetNon-operating Profit (Loss)
The following table shows, for the periods indicated, the components of our net non-operating profit:
Share of profit of associates
Net other non-operating income
Net non-operating profit
Our net non-operating profit decreased 72.4% from ￦123 billion in 2017 to ￦34 billion in 2018, primarily as a result of a 71.4% decrease in share of profit of associates from ￦84 billion in 2017 to ￦24 billion in 2018 and, to a lesser extent, a 74.4% decrease in net other non-operating income from ￦39 billion in 2017 to ￦10 billion in 2018.
The 71.4% decrease in share of profit of associates was primarily due to the conversion of KB Insurance from an associate accounted for under the equity method to a consolidated subsidiary in May 2017, as well as a decrease in gains on disposal of investments in associates and joint ventures from 2017 to 2018.
The 74.4% decrease in net other non-operatingincome was attributable mainly to a 6.1% decrease in other non-operating income from ￦261 billion in 2017 to ￦245 billion in 2018, which was enhanced by a 6.3% increase in other non-operating expenses from ￦222 billion in 2017 to ￦236 billion in 2018. The decrease in other non-operating income was principally due to gains on bargain purchase of ￦123 billion recognized in connection with a tender offer we conducted in May 2017 to increase our shareholding in KB Insurance, compared to no such gains in 2018. See “—Overview—Acquisitions.” The increase in other non-operating expenses primarily reflected a 140.7% increase in donations from ￦54 billion in 2017 to ￦130 billion in 2018.
Our net non-operating profit decreased 87.1% from ￦952 billion in 2016 to ￦123 billion in 2017, primarily as a result of a 94.2% decrease in net other non-operating income from ￦671 billion in 2016 to ￦39 billion in 2017 and, to a lesser extent, a 70.1% decrease in share of profit of associates from ￦281 billion in 2016 to ￦84 billion in 2017.
The 94.2% decrease in net other non-operating income was attributable mainly to a 65.0% decrease in other non-operating income from ￦746 billion in 2016 to ￦261 billion in 2017. Such decrease was mainly due to gains on bargain purchase of ￦629 billion recognized in connection with a comprehensive stock swap we effected in October 2016 to increase our shareholding in Hyundai Securities to 100%, which did not recur in 2017. See “—Overview—Acquisitions.”
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The 70.1% decrease in share of profit of associates was primarily due to a 75.8% decrease in gains on equity method accounting recognized with respect to KB Insurance from ￦161 billion in 2016 to ￦39 billion in 2017, principally as a result of it becoming a consolidated subsidiary in May 2017.
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)
Our income tax expense is calculated by adding or subtracting changes in deferred income tax liabilities and assets to income tax amounts payable for the period. Deferred income tax assets are recognized for deductible temporary differences, unused tax losses and unused tax credits, while deferred income tax liabilities are recognized for taxable temporary differences. Temporary differences are those between the carrying values of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and their respective tax bases. Deferred income tax assets, including unused tax losses and credits, are recognized only to the extent it is probable that sufficient taxable profit will be available against which such deferred income tax assets can be utilized. See “—Critical Accounting Policies—Deferred Income Tax Assets.”
Income tax expense increased 56.0% from ￦795 billion in 2017 to ￦1,240 billion in 2018, primarily due to a significant decrease in tax benefits from non-taxable income from ￦208 billion in 2017 to ￦12 billion in 2018 and a 4.0% increase in our profit before income tax from 2017 to 2018. The effect of such changes was enhanced by an increase in the statutory tax rate applicable to us from 24.2% in 2017 to 27.5% in 2018 as a result of changes in Korean corporate income tax laws that became effective in January 2018. The effect of such changes was partially offset by a 46.2% decrease in expenses relating to the effect of changes in deferred income tax assets and liabilities from ￦212 billion in 2017 to ￦114 billion in 2018. Our effective tax rate was 28.8% in 2018 compared to 19.2% in 2017.
Income tax expense increased 81.1% from ￦439 billion in 2016 to ￦795 billion in 2017, primarily due to a 57.4% increase in our profit before income tax from 2016 to 2017, as well as the effect of changes in deferred income tax assets and liabilities from a benefit of ￦201 billion in 2016 to an expense of ￦212 billion in 2017. The statutory tax rate was 24.2% in 2016 and 2017. Our effective tax rate was 19.2% in 2017 compared to 16.7% in 2016.
See Note 33 of the notes to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this annual report.
Profit for the Year
As a result of the factors described above, our profit for the year was ￦3,062 billion in 2018, compared to ￦3,343 billion in 2017 and ￦2,190 billion in 2016.
Results by Principal Business Segment
We compile and analyze financial information for our business segments based upon segment information used by our management for the purposes of resource allocation and performance evaluation. We are organized into seven major business segments: retail banking operations, corporate banking operations, other banking operations, credit card operations, investment and securities operations, life insurance operations and non-life insurance operations.
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The following table shows, for the periods indicated, our results of operations by segment:
Retail banking operations
Corporate banking operations
Other banking operations
Credit card operations
Investment and securities operations
Life insurance operations
Non-life insurance operations
Total(3)
After deduction of income tax allocated to each segment.
Represents operating revenue from external customers. See Note 5 of the notes to our consolidated financial statements.
Prior to adjustments for consolidation, inter-segment transactions and certain differences in classification under our management reporting system.
Our other banking operations, which include treasury activities, provide funding to our retail banking operations and corporate banking operations and receive funds procured through the financing activities of such segments, such as deposit-taking activities. When our retail banking operations or corporate banking operations engage in an investing activity, such as lending, the relevant amount is recognized as an inter-segment borrowing from the other banking operations. When our retail banking operations or corporate banking operations engage in a financing activity, such as deposit-taking, the relevant amount is recognized as an inter-segment lending to the other banking operations (or as a reduction in inter-segment borrowings from the other banking operations). Generally, for our retail banking operations, the amounts procured from financing activities are greater than the amounts used in investing activities, whereas for our corporate banking operations, the amounts used in investing activities are greater than the amounts procured from financing activities. The cost of borrowing from the other banking operations is calculated by multiplying the average balance of the amounts used in investing activities by the applicable internal funding rate on such inter-segment borrowings, whereas the income from lending to the other banking operations is calculated by multiplying the average balance of the amounts procured from financing activities by the applicable internal funding rate on such inter-segment lendings. The applicable internal funding rates on inter-segment borrowings tend to be generally higher than the applicable internal funding rates on inter-segment lendings, primarily due to the difference in the maturity structure of interest rates on the amounts used in investing activities and the amounts procured from financing activities. The cost of borrowing from the other banking operations is offset by the income from lending to the other banking operations, and the difference is recorded as expenses related to inter-segment borrowings, within net other operating expenses, for our retail banking operations and corporate banking operations, while a corresponding amount is recorded as income from inter-segment lending, within net other operating income, for our other banking operations.
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Retail Banking Operations
This segment consists of retail banking services provided by Kookmin Bank. The following table shows, for the periods indicated, our income statement data for this segment:
Income statement data
Net other operating expense
Tax expense
Our profit before income tax for this segment increased 30.8% from ￦642 billion in 2017 to ￦840 billion in 2018.
Interest income from our retail banking operations increased 15.5% from ￦3,936 billion in 2017 to ￦4,548 billion in 2018. This increase was principally due to increases in the average volume of other consumer and mortgage loans, mainly reflecting higher demand for such loans, the effect of which was enhanced by increases in the average yields on other consumer loans and mortgage loans from 2017 to 2018.
Our largest and most important funding source is deposits from retail customers, which represent more than half of our total deposits. Interest expense for this segment increased 23.2% from ￦1,288 billion in 2017 to ￦1,587 billion in 2018. This increase was mainly due to an increase in the average cost of time deposits held by retail customers, primarily reflecting an increase in the general level of interest rates in Korea in 2018 compared to 2017, which was enhanced by an increase in the average volume of such deposits.
Net fee and commission income attributable to this segment decreased 17.6% from ￦595 billion in 2017 to ￦490 billion in 2018, mainly due to decreases in beneficiary certificate sales commission fees and trust fees received.
Net other operating expense attributable to this segment decreased 13.2% from ￦532 billion in 2017 to ￦462 billion in 2018, mainly as a result of a decrease in expenses related to inter-segment borrowings. While the higher interest rate environment in Korea in 2018 compared to 2017 led to increases in the internal funding rates applicable to both inter-segment borrowings and lendings from 2017 to 2018, the increase in the yield on inter-segment lendings was higher compared to the increase in the cost of inter-segment borrowings, leading to a decrease in expenses related to inter-segment borrowings.
General and administrative expenses attributable to this segment increased 1.2% from ￦1,947 billion in 2017 to ￦1,970 billion in 2018, primarily due to an increase in compensation and other common administrative expenses shared among the banking-related segments.
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Provision for credit losses increased 46.7% from ￦122 billion in 2017 to ￦179 billion in 2018, mainly due to an overall deterioration in the asset quality of our retail loans, as well as an increase in the outstanding volume of such loans.
Our profit before income tax for this segment increased 349.0% from ￦143 billion in 2016 to ￦642 billion in 2017.
Interest income from our retail banking operations increased 5.2% from ￦3,740 billion in 2016 to ￦3,936 billion in 2017. This increase was principally due to increases in the average volume of other consumer and mortgage loans, mainly reflecting higher demand for such loans, growth in which were offset in part by a decrease in the average yield on other consumer loans from 2016 to 2017.
Interest expense for this segment decreased 7.1% from ￦1,387 billion in 2016 to ￦1,288 billion in 2017. This decrease was mainly due to a decrease in the average cost of time deposits held by retail customers, primarily reflecting a decrease in the general level of interest rates in Korea in 2017 compared to 2016, which was offset in part by an increase in the average volume of such deposits.
Net fee and commission income attributable to this segment increased 18.1% from ￦504 billion in 2016 to ￦595 billion in 2017, mainly due to increases in trust fees received.
Net other operating expense attributable to this segment decreased 12.6% from ￦609 billion in 2016 to ￦532 billion in 2017, mainly as a result of a decrease in expenses related to inter-segment borrowings. While the lower interest rate environment in Korea in 2017 compared to 2016 led to decreases in the internal funding rates applicable to both inter-segment borrowings and lendings from 2016 to 2017, the decrease in the cost of inter-segment borrowings was higher compared to the decrease in the yield on inter-segment lendings, leading to a decrease in expenses related to inter-segment borrowings.
General and administrative expenses attributable to this segment decreased 7.4% from ￦2,102 billion in 2016 to ￦1,947 billion in 2017, primarily due to decreases in information technology and other common administrative expenses shared among the banking-related segments.
Provision for credit losses increased significantly from ￦3 billion in 2016 to ￦122 billion in 2017, mainly due to an increase in the volume of our outstanding retail loans, as well as higher net write-offs of such loans.
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Corporate Banking Operations
This segment consists of corporate banking services provided by Kookmin Bank. The following table shows, for the periods indicated, our income statement data for this segment:
Net gain from financial assets and liabilities at fair value through profit or loss
Net loss from financial assets and liabilities at fair value through profit or loss (under IAS 39)
Provision (reversal of provision) for credit losses
Net other non-operating revenue (expense)
Our profit before income tax for this segment increased 22.1% from ￦1,146 billion in 2017 to ￦1,399 billion in 2018.
Interest income from our corporate banking operations increased 19.1% from ￦3,584 billion in 2017 to ￦4,268 billion in 2018. This increase was principally due to an increase in the average volume of corporate loans, mainly reflecting increased demand for such loans, which was enhanced by an increase in the average yields on such loans.
Interest expense for this segment increased 47.3% from ￦1,028 billion in 2017 to ￦1,514 billion in 2018. This increase was principally due to an increase in the average cost of time deposits held by corporate customers, primarily reflecting an increase in the general level of interest rates in Korea in 2018 compared to 2017, which was enhanced by an increase in the average volume of such deposits.
Net fee and commission income attributable to this segment increased 22.0% from ￦236 billion in 2017 to ￦288 billion in 2018, primarily due to increases in fund transfer fees, agent activity fees and trust fees received.
Net gain (loss) from financial assets and liabilities at fair value through profit or loss attributable to this segment changed from a net loss under IAS 39 of ￦2 billion in 2017 to a net gain of ￦14 billion in 2018, principally as a result of an increase in net gain on derivativesheld-for-trading.
Net other operating expense attributable to this segment decreased 5.4% from ￦679 billion in 2017 to ￦642 billion in 2018, mainly as a result of a decrease in expenses related to inter-segment borrowings. While the higher interest rate environment in Korea in 2018 compared to 2017 led to increases in the internal funding rates
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applicable to both inter-segment borrowings and lendings from 2017 to 2018, the resulting effect on the yield on inter-segment lendings was greater than the effect on the cost of inter-segment borrowings, leading to a decrease in expenses related to inter-segment borrowings.
General and administrative expenses attributable to this segment increased 12.1% from ￦974 billion in 2017 to ￦1,092 billion in 2018, principally due to an increase in compensation and other common administrative expenses shared among the banking-related segments.
Reversal of provision for credit losses increased significantly from ￦7 billion in 2017 to ￦77 billion in 2018, due mainly to an improvement in the asset quality of corporate loans, reflecting a decrease in impaired corporate loans, as well as lower net write-offs of such loans.
Net other non-operating revenue (expense) attributable to this segment changed from a revenue of ￦2 billion in 2017 to an expense of less than ￦1 billion in 2018.
Our profit before income tax for this segment increased 96.6% from ￦583 billion in 2016 to ￦1,146 billion in 2017.
Interest income from our corporate banking operations increased 8.7% from ￦3,297 billion in 2016 to ￦3,584 billion in 2017. This increase was principally due to an increase in the average volume of corporate loans, mainly reflecting our increased marketing efforts and increased demand for such loans, which was enhanced by an increase in the average yields on such loans.
Interest expense for this segment increased 1.7% from ￦1,011 billion in 2016 to ￦1,028 billion in 2017. This increase was principally due to an increase in the average volume of time deposits held by corporate customers, primarily reflecting higher demand for such deposits, which was offset in part by a decrease in the average cost of such deposits.
Net fee and commission income attributable to this segment increased 2.2% from ￦231 billion in 2016 to ￦236 billion in 2017, primarily due to increases in fund transfer fees and trust fees received.
Net other operating expense attributable to this segment decreased 3.6% from ￦704 billion in 2016 to ￦679 billion in 2017, mainly as a result of an increase in net gains on sales of corporate loans, as well as a decrease in expenses related to inter-segment borrowings. While the lower interest rate environment in Korea in 2017 compared to 2016 led to decreases in the internal funding rates applicable to both inter-segment borrowings and lendings from 2016 to 2017, the resulting effect on the cost of inter-segment borrowings was greater than the effect on the yield on inter-segment lendings, leading to a decrease in expenses related to inter-segment borrowings.
General and administrative expenses attributable to this segment increased 2.5% from ￦950 billion in 2016 to ￦974 billion in 2017, principally due to increases in salaries and short-term benefits paid, which were offset in part by decreases in information technology and other common administrative expenses shared among the banking-related segments.
Provision (reversal of provision) for credit losses changed from a provision of ￦278 billion in 2016 to a reversal of provision of ￦7 billion in 2017, due mainly to an improvement in the asset quality of corporate loans, reflecting a decrease in impaired corporate loans, as well as lower net write-offs of such loans.
Net other non-operating revenue (expense) attributable to this segment changed from an expense of ￦1 billion in 2016 to a revenue of ￦2 billion in 2017.
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Other Banking Operations
This segment primarily consists of Kookmin Bank’s banking operations other than retail and corporate banking operations, including treasury activities and Kookmin Bank’s “back office” administrative operations. The following table shows, for the periods indicated, our income statement data for this segment:
Net gain (loss) from financial assets and liabilities at fair value through profit or loss (under IAS 39)
Net other operating income
Reversal of provision for credit losses
Our profit before income tax for this segment increased 2.5% from ￦826 billion in 2017 to ￦847 billion in 2018.
Interest income from our other banking operations increased 21.8% from ￦989 billion in 2017 to ￦1,205 billion in 2018. This increase was attributable primarily to an increase in the average volume of Kookmin Bank’s financial investments portfolio, mainly reflecting higher investments in debt securities issued by Korean financial institutions and corporations, which was enhanced by an increase in the average yields on such investments.
Interest expense for this segment increased by 30.3% from ￦628 billion in 2017 to ￦818 billion in 2018. This increase was principally due to an increase in the average volume of long-term debentures issued by Kookmin Bank, mainly reflecting greater use of debentures by Kookmin Bank to meet its funding needs, which was enhanced by an increase in the average cost of such debentures.
Net fee and commission income attributable to this segment decreased 12.7% from ￦394 billion in 2017 to ￦344 billion in 2018, mainly due to a decrease in agent activity fees received from affiliates.
Net gain (loss) from financial assets and liabilities at fair value through profit or loss attributable to this segment changed from a net loss under IAS 39 of ￦70 billion in 2017 to a net gain of ￦312 billion in 2018, principally as a result of an increase in net gain on currency derivativesheld-for-trading.
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Net other operating income attributable to this segment decreased 55.9% from ￦923 billion in 2017 to ￦407 billion in 2018, mainly as a result of decreases in net gain on foreign currency translation and income related to inter-segment lending, which were offset in part by an increase in net gain on sale of debt securities.
General and administrative expenses attributable to this segment decreased 5.4% from ￦745 billion in 2017 to ￦705 billion in 2018, primarily due to a decrease in share-based payments provided to employees of Kookmin Bank from 2017 to 2018.
Reversal of provision for credit losses attributable to this segment increased from less than ￦1 billion in 2017 to ￦8 billion in 2018, principally due to certain consolidation adjustments relating to provisions.
Share of profit of associates attributable to this segment increased 31.6% from ￦38 billion in 2017 to ￦50 billion in 2018, principally as a result of an increase in profits of equity-method investees of Kookmin Bank, which was partially offset by a decrease in gains on disposal of investments in associates and joint ventures.
Net othernon-operating revenue (expense) attributable to this segment changed from an expense of ￦75 billion in 2017 to a revenue of ￦45 billion in 2018, primarily due to the recognition of a gain on disposal of Kookmin Bank’s former headquarters building in Seoul in 2018, as well as a one-time contribution to the Korea Inclusive Finance Agency made by Kookmin Bank (together with other Korean banks) in 2017 relating to income from unclaimed cashiers’ checks, which was not repeated in 2018.
Our profit before income tax for this segment increased 55.8% from ￦530 billion in 2016 to ￦826 billion in 2017.
Interest income from our other banking operations decreased 1.4% from ￦1,003 billion in 2016 to ￦989 billion in 2017. This decrease was attributable primarily to a decrease in the average yields on Kookmin Bank’s financial investments portfolio, mainly reflecting the lower interest rate environment in Korea in 2017 compared to 2016, which was offset in part by an increase in the average volume of such investments.
Interest expense for this segment decreased 5.7% from ￦666 billion in 2016 to ￦628 billion in 2017. This decrease was principally due to a decrease in the average cost of long-term debentures issued by Kookmin Bank, mainly reflecting the lower interest rate environment in Korea in 2017 compared to 2016, which was offset in part by an increase in the average volume of such debentures.
Net fee and commission income attributable to this segment increased 11.9% from ￦352 billion in 2016 to ￦394 billion in 2017, mainly due to increases in brand usage fees received from affiliates and underwriting fees received.
Net gain (loss) from financial assets and liabilities at fair value through profit or loss under IAS 39 attributable to this segment changed from a net gain of ￦50 billion in 2016 to a net loss of ￦70 billion in 2017, principally as a result of decreases in net gains on derivativesheld-for-trading.
Net other operating income attributable to this segment increased 1.2% from ￦912 billion in 2016 to ￦923 billion in 2017, mainly as a result of an increase in net gain on foreign exchange transactions, which was offset in part by a decrease in net gain on disposals of available-for-sale financial assets.
General and administrative expenses attributable to this segment decreased 38.8% from ￦1,217 billion in 2016 to ￦745 billion in 2017, primarily due to a decrease in termination benefits attributable mainly to a decrease in the number of employees participating in the voluntary early retirement program implemented by Kookmin Bank.
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Reversal of provision for credit losses attributable to this segment decreased from ￦27 billion in 2016 to less than ￦1 billion in 2017, principally due to a decrease in reversal of provisions for financial guarantees and an increase in provisions for other assets.
Share of profit of associates attributable to this segment increased 111.1% from ￦18 billion in 2016 to ￦38 billion in 2017, principally as a result of an increase in gain on disposal of investments in associates and joint ventures.
Net other non-operating revenue (expense) attributable to this segment changed from a revenue of ￦51 billion in 2016 to an expense of ￦75 billion in 2017, primarily due to a one-time contribution to the Korea Inclusive Finance Agency made by Kookmin Bank (together with other Korean banks) relating to income from unclaimed cashiers’ checks.
Credit Card Operations
This segment consists of credit card activities conducted by KB Kookmin Card. The following table shows, for the periods indicated, our income statement data for this segment:
Net insurance income
Our profit before income tax for this segment increased 18.8% from ￦368 billion in 2017 to ￦437 billion in 2018.
Interest income from our credit card operations increased 9.9% from ￦1,341 billion in 2017 to ￦1,474 billion in 2018. This increase was primarily due to an increase in the average volume of credit card receivables, mainly reflecting increases in the number of credit cards issued and in the use of credit cards by customers, which was offset in part by a decrease in the average yields on such receivables.
Interest expense for this segment increased 19.1% from ￦257 billion in 2017 to ￦306 billion in 2018. This increase was primarily due to increased funding costs for this segment in light of the higher interest rate environment in Korea in 2018 compared to 2017, as well as an increase in the average volume of debentures issued by KB Kookmin Card.
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Net fee and commission income attributable to this segment increased 99.2% from ￦133 billion in 2017 to ￦265 billion in 2018, which resulted mainly from an increase in credit card related fees and commissions received, principally due to increases in the number and use of credit cards.
Net insurance income attributable to this segment decreased slightly from ￦20 billion in 2017 to ￦18 billion in 2018.
Net other operating expense attributable to this segment decreased 2.6% from ￦154 billion in 2017 to ￦150 billion in 2018, primarily due to increases in dividend income from equity investments and net gains on sales of receivables, which were offset in part by an increase in membership reward program-related costs mainly as a result of increases in the number and use of credit cards.
General and administrative expenses attributable to this segment increased 9.2% from ￦371 billion in 2017 to ￦405 billion in 2018, mainly due to increases in salary and employee benefit expenses.
Provision for credit losses increased 27.9% from ￦337 billion in 2017 to ￦431 billion in 2018, mainly due to an overall deterioration in the asset quality of our credit card receivables, including existing impaired credit card receivables, as well as an increase in the outstanding volume of such receivables.
Net other non-operating expense attributable to this segment increased 357.1% from ￦7 billion in 2017 to ￦32 billion in 2018, primarily due to an increase in donations.
Our profit before income tax for this segment decreased 10.7% from ￦412 billion in 2016 to ￦368 billion in 2017.
Interest income from our credit card operations increased 6.3% from ￦1,261 billion in 2016 to ￦1,341 billion in 2017. This increase was primarily due to an increase in the average volume of credit card receivables, mainly reflecting increases in the number of credit cards issued and in the use of credit cards by customers, which were offset in part by a decrease in the average yields on such receivables.
Interest expense for this segment decreased 8.2% from ￦280 billion in 2016 to ￦257 billion in 2017. This decrease was primarily due to decreased funding costs for this segment in light of the lower interest rate environment in Korea in 2017 compared to 2016.
Net fee and commission income attributable to this segment increased 44.6% from ￦92 billion in 2016 to ￦133 billion in 2017, which resulted mainly from an increase in credit card related fees and commissions received, principally due to increases in the number and use of credit cards.
Net insurance income attributable to this segment remained relatively stable at ￦20 billion in 2017 compared to ￦21 billion in 2016.
Net other operating expense attributable to this segment increased 79.1% from ￦86 billion in 2016 to ￦154 billion in 2017, primarily due to an increase in membership reward program-related costs mainly as a result of increases in the number and use of credit cards.
General and administrative expenses attributable to this segment increased 6.6% from ￦348 billion in 2016 to ￦371 billion in 2017, mainly due to an increase in salary expenses, primarily reflecting an increase in wage levels.
Provision for credit losses increased 34.8% from ￦250 billion in 2016 to ￦337 billion in 2017, mainly due to an increase in the volume of our outstanding credit card receivables, as well as an increase in impaired credit card receivables.
155
Net other non-operating revenue (expense) attributable to this segment changed from a revenue of ￦2 billion in 2016 to an expense of ￦7 billion in 2017, primarily due to an increase in provisions for litigation and related costs.
Investment and Securities Operations
This segment consists primarily of securities brokerage, investment banking, securities investment and trading and other capital markets activities conducted by KB Securities, including its predecessor entities. KB Securities was the surviving entity in the merger in December 2016 of our former subsidiary, KB Investment & Securities, with and into Hyundai Securities, which had become our consolidated subsidiary in October 2016. See “—Overview—Acquisitions.” The following table shows, for the periods indicated, our income statement data for this segment:
Net loss from financial assets and liabilities at fair value through profit or loss
Net other operating income (expense)
Share of profit of associates and joint ventures
Net other non-operating revenue
Tax expense (benefit)
Income statement data for 2016 represents (i) for the period before Hyundai Securities became our consolidated subsidiary in October 2016, such data for KB Investment & Securities and for our minority interest in Hyundai Securities, and (ii) for the period after Hyundai Securities became our consolidated subsidiary, the combined income statement data for KB Investment & Securities and Hyundai Securities, which were merged to form KB Securities in December 2016.
Our profit before income tax for this segment decreased 21.9% from ￦319 billion in 2017 to ￦249 billion in 2018.
Interest income from our investment and securities operations increased 2.4% from ￦800 billion in 2017 to ￦819 billion in 2018. This increase was primarily due to an increase in the volume of interest-earning financial assets at fair value through profit or loss held by KB Securities, which was enhanced by an increase in the average yields on such financial assets.
Interest expense for this segment increased 37.8% from ￦201 billion in 2017 to ￦277 billion in 2018, principally as a result of an increase in the average cost of debts, mainly reflecting the higher interest rate environment in Korea in 2018 compared to 2017, which was enhanced by an increase in the volume of debts of KB Securities.
156
Net fee and commission income attributable to this segment increased 13.6% from ￦551 billion in 2017 to ￦626 billion in 2018, primarily due to increases in securities brokerage commissions as well as investment banking and advisory fees received.
Net gain (loss) from financial assets and liabilities at fair value through profit or loss attributable to this segment changed from a net gain under IAS 39 of ￦179 billion in 2017 to a net loss of ￦222 billion in 2018, principally due to a change in net gain (loss) on derivativesheld-for-trading from a net gain in 2017 to a net loss in 2018, which was offset in part by an increase in gains on derivative-linked securities.
Net other operating income (expense) attributable to this segment changed from an expense of ￦256 billion in 2017 to an income of ￦34 billion in 2018, primarily due to an increase in net gain on foreign currency translation with respect to foreign currency assets, mainly as a result of the depreciation of the Won against the U.S. dollar during 2018.
General and administrative expenses attributable to this segment remained relatively stable at ￦735 billion in 2018 compared to ￦734 billion in 2017.
Provision for credit losses decreased 56.5% from ￦23 billion in 2017 to ￦10 billion in 2018, primarily due to an improvement in the overall asset quality of the loan portfolio of KB Securities.
Share of profit of associates and joint ventures attributable to this segment decreased slightly from ￦1 billion in 2017 to less than ￦1 billion in 2018.
Net other non-operating revenue attributable to this segment increased 600.0% from ￦2 billion in 2017 to ￦14 billion in 2018, mainly due to the recognition of a loss on the disposal of Hyundai Savings Bank (a former subsidiary of KB Securities) in 2017, which did not recur in 2018.
Our profit before income tax for this segment decreased 48.6% from ￦621 billion in 2016 to ￦319 billion in 2017.
Interest income from our investment and securities operations increased 174.9% from ￦291 billion in 2016 to ￦800 billion in 2017. This increase was primarily due to an increase in the volume of interest-earning financial assets at fair value through profit or loss, mainly reflecting the full-year impact of the addition of Hyundai Securities as a consolidated subsidiary in October 2016.
Interest expense for this segment increased 187.1% from ￦70 billion in 2016 to ￦201 billion in 2017, principally as a result of an increase in the volume of debts, mainly reflecting the full-year impact of the addition of Hyundai Securities as a consolidated subsidiary in October 2016.
Net fee and commission income attributable to this segment increased 185.5% from ￦193 billion in 2016 to ￦551 billion in 2017, primarily due to increases in securities brokerage commissions as well as investment banking and advisory fees received, mainly reflecting the full-year impact of the addition of Hyundai Securities as a consolidated subsidiary in October 2016.
Net gain (loss) from financial assets and liabilities at fair value through profit or loss under IAS 39 attributable to this segment changed from a loss of ￦361 billion in 2016 to a gain of ￦179 billion in 2017, principally due to an increase in net gain on transaction and valuation of derivatives and valuation of hybrid securities, offset in part by a decrease in net gain on disposal of hybrid securities, which mainly reflected the full-year impact of the addition of Hyundai Securities as a consolidated subsidiary in October 2016.
157
Net other operating income (expense) attributable to this segment changed from an income of ￦134 billion in 2016 to an expense of ￦256 billion in 2017, primarily due to a significant decrease in net gain on foreign currency translation with respect to the foreign currency assets of the former Hyundai Securities, mainly as a result of the appreciation of the Won against the U.S. dollar during 2017.
General and administrative expenses attributable to this segment increased 131.5% from ￦317 billion in 2016 to ￦734 billion in 2017, principally due to an increase in employee compensation and benefits, mainly reflecting the full-yearimpact of an increase in the number of employees as a result of the addition of Hyundai Securities as a consolidated subsidiary in October 2016.
Provision (reversal of provision) for credit losses changed from a reversal of provision of ￦9 billion in 2016 to a provision of ￦23 billion in 2017, primarily due to the recognition in 2016 of a reversal of provisions for credit losses on privately placed bonds, which was not repeated in 2017.
Share of profit of associates and joint ventures attributable to this segment decreased 99.1% from ￦106 billion in 2016 to ￦1 billion in 2017, primarily due to gains on equity method accounting recognized in 2016 with respect to our minority interest in Hyundai Securities for the period prior to its addition as a consolidated subsidiary in October 2016, which did not recur in 2017.
Net other non-operating revenue attributable to this segment decreased 99.7% from ￦636 billion in 2016 to ￦2 billion in 2017, mainly due to gains on bargain purchase recognized in connection with a comprehensive stock swap we effected in October 2016 to increase our shareholding in Hyundai Securities to 100%, which did not recur in 2017.
Life Insurance Operations
This segment consists of the life insurance operations of KB Life Insurance. The following table shows, for the periods indicated, our income statement data for this segment:
Net fee and commission expense
Net insurance expense
Net gain from financial assets and liabilities at fair value through profit or loss (under IAS 39)
Tax expense(3)
Represents income tax attributable to KB Life Insurance.
158
Our profit before income tax for this segment decreased 40.0% from ￦35 billion in 2017 to ￦21 billion in 2018.
Interest income from our life insurance operations decreased 14.4% from ￦216 billion in 2017 to ￦185 billion in 2018, primarily due to a decrease in the average volume of the financial investments and loan portfolios of KB Life Insurance, which was offset in part by an increase in the average yields on such portfolios.
Net fee and commission expense attributable to this segment increased 225.0% from ￦4 billion in 2017 to ￦13 billion in 2018, primarily due to an increase in outsourcing-related fees and commissions paid.
Net insurance expense attributable to this segment remained relatively stable at ￦140 billion in 2018 compared to ￦141 billion in 2017.
Net gain from financial assets and liabilities at fair value through profit or loss attributable to this segment increased significantly from a net gain under IAS 39 of ￦8 billion in 2017 to a net gain of ￦63 billion in 2018, primarily due to an increase in dividend income from beneficiary certificates, which reflected the reclassification of such beneficiary certificates from available-for-sale financial assets in 2017 under IAS 39 to financial assets at fair value through profit or loss in 2018 under IFRS 9.
Net other operating income (expense) attributable to this segment changed from income of ￦30 billion in 2017 to an expense of ￦10 billion in 2018, principally due to a decrease in dividend income from beneficiary certificates, which reflected the reclassification of such beneficiary certificates under IFRS 9, as discussed above.
General and administrative expenses attributable to this segment decreased 12.5% from ￦72 billion in 2017 to ￦63 billion in 2018, primarily due to decreases in share-based payments, rental expenses and depreciation and amortization expenses.
Provision for credit losses decreased from ￦2 billion in 2017 to less than ￦1 billion in 2018.
Our profit before income tax for this segment increased 105.9% from ￦17 billion in 2016 to ￦35 billion in 2017.
Interest income from our life insurance operations decreased 7.7% from ￦234 billion in 2016 to ￦216 billion in 2017, primarily due to a decrease in the average yields on the financial investments and loan portfolios of KB Life Insurance, mainly reflecting the lower interest rate environment in Korea in 2017 compared to 2016, which was offset in part by an increase in the average volume of financial investments.
Net insurance expense attributable to this segment decreased 15.1% from ￦166 billion in 2016 to ￦141 billion in 2017, mainly due to a decrease in provision of policy reserves, which was offset in part by a decrease in premium income from savings-type insurance policies.
Net gain from financial assets and liabilities at fair value through profit or loss under IAS 39 attributable to this segment remained constant at ￦8 billion in 2016 and 2017.
Net other operating income attributable to this segment decreased 23.1% from ￦39 billion in 2016 to ￦30 billion in 2017, principally due to a decrease in net gain on foreign currency translation.
159
General and administrative expenses attributable to this segment decreased 24.2% from ￦95 billion in 2016 to ￦72 billion in 2017, primarily due to decreases in marketing expenses and depreciation and amortization expenses.
Provision for credit losses remained constant at ￦2 billion in 2016 and 2017.
Non-Life Insurance Operations
This segment consists of the non-life insurance operations of KB Insurance. KB Insurance became a consolidated subsidiary in May 2017 and subsequently became a wholly-owned subsidiary in July 2017. See “—Overview—Acquisitions.” The following table shows, for the periods indicated, our income statement data for this segment:
Income statement data for 2017 represents such data for KB Insurance for the period after it became our consolidated subsidiary in May 2017.
Our profit before income tax for this segment decreased 28.3% from ￦512 billion in 2017 to ￦367 billion in 2018.
Interest income attributable to this segment increased 32.5% from ￦465 billion in 2017 to ￦616 billion in 2018, primarily due to an increase in the average volume of financial investments and loans, mainly reflecting the full-year effect of the addition of KB Insurance as a consolidated subsidiary in May 2017.
Net insurance income attributable to this segment decreased 12.7% from ￦700 billion in 2017 to ￦611 billion in 2018, primarily due to an increase in insurance expenses, mainly reflecting an increase in insurance claims paid on long-term and automobile insurance policies, which outpaced an increase in insurance income.
Net fee and commission expense attributable to this segment increased 50.0% from ￦98 billion in 2017 to ￦147 billion in 2018, due mainly to an increase in the commissions paid to insurance agents, primarily reflecting the full-year effect of the addition of KB Insurance as a consolidated subsidiary in May 2017.
160
Net gain from financial assets and liabilities at fair value through profit or loss attributable to this segment increased from a net gain under IAS 39 of ￦41 billion in 2017 to a net gain of ￦181 billion in 2018, primarily as a result of an increase in dividend income from beneficiary certificates, which reflected the reclassification of such beneficiary certificates from available-for-sale financial assets in 2017 under IAS 39 to financial assets at fair value through profit or loss in 2018 under IFRS 9.
Net other operating income (expense) attributable to this segment changed from an income of ￦31 billion in 2017 to an expense of ￦98 billion in 2018, due mainly to a decrease in net gain on derivatives held for fair value hedging and a decrease in dividend income from beneficiary certificates, which reflected the reclassification of such beneficiary certificates under IFRS 9, as discussed above. Such decreases were offset in part by an increase in net gain on foreign exchange transactions.
General and administrative expenses attributable to this segment increased 25.4% from ￦629 billion in 2017 to ￦789 billion in 2018, principally due to an increase in salary expenses, mainly reflecting the full-year effect of the addition of KB Insurance as a consolidated subsidiary in May 2017.
Provision for credit losses increased 55.6% from ￦9 billion in 2017 to ￦14 billion in 2018, primarily due to an increase in provisions relating to insurance premium receivables, mainly as a result of an increase in the volume of such receivables.
Net other non-operating revenue attributable to this segment decreased 36.4% from ￦11 billion in 2017 to ￦7 billion in 2018, principally due to an increase in donations.
“Other” includes the operations of our holding company and all of our subsidiaries that were consolidated under IFRS as issued by the IASB as of December 31, 2018 except Kookmin Bank, KB Kookmin Card, KB Securities (including its predecessor entities), KB Life Insurance and KB Insurance, including principally KB Asset Management, KB Real Estate Trust, KB Investment, KB Credit Information, KB Data System, KB Savings Bank and KB Capital. See “—Overview—Acquisitions.” The following table shows, for the periods indicated, our income statement data for this segment:
161
Represents income tax attributable to our holding company and all of our subsidiaries that were consolidated under IFRS as issued by the IASB except Kookmin Bank, KB Kookmin Card, KB Securities (including its predecessor entities), KB Life Insurance and KB Insurance.
Our profit before income tax for this segment increased 23.4% from ￦175 billion in 2017 to ￦216 billion in 2018.
Interest income attributable to this segment increased 7.1% from ￦602 billion in 2017 to ￦645 billion in 2018. This increase was primarily due to an increase in interest income on loans of KB Capital.
Interest expense attributable to this segment increased 23.8% from ￦286 billion in 2017 to ￦354 billion in 2018, mainly due to an increase in interest expense on debentures of KB Capital and our holding company.
Net fee and commission income attributable to this segment increased 52.6% from ￦253 billion in 2017 to ￦386 billion in 2018, principally reflecting an increase in automobile rental and lease fees received by KB Capital, as well as increases in trust and other fiduciary fees received by KB Real Estate Trust.
Net gain from financial assets and liabilities at fair value through profit or loss attributable to this segment increased from a net gain under IAS 39 of ￦1 billion in 2017 to a net gain of ￦89 billion in 2018, primarily as a result of an increase in net gain on valuation of equity securities held by KB Investment, which reflected the reclassification of such securities from available-for-sale financial assets in 2017 under IAS 39 to financial assets at fair value through profit or loss in 2018 under IFRS 9.
Net other operating expense attributable to this segment increased 158.5% from ￦53 billion in 2017 to ￦137 billion in 2018, which mainly reflected an increase in depreciation expenses with respect to leased assets of KB Capital.
General and administrative expenses attributable to this segment increased 5.8% from ￦292 billion in 2017 to ￦309 billion in 2018, principally due to increases in depreciation and amortization expenses of real estate funds included in this segment and service fees paid by our holding company.
Provision for credit losses increased 96.8% from ￦63 billion in 2017 to ￦124 billion in 2018, primarily due to an increase in provision for loan losses for KB Capital and KB Real Estate Trust.
Share of profit of associates attributable to this segment decreased 50.0% from ￦6 billion in 2017 to ￦3 billion in 2018, mainly reflecting a decrease in profits of equity-method investees of KB Investment.
Net othernon-operating revenue attributable to this segment increased 142.9% from ￦7 billion in 2017 to ￦17 billion in 2018, principally reflecting an increase in rental income of real estate funds included in this segment.
Our profit before income tax for this segment decreased 56.7% from ￦404 billion in 2016 to ￦175 billion in 2017.
Interest income attributable to this segment increased 16.0% from ￦519 billion in 2016 to ￦602 billion in 2017. This increase was primarily due to an increase in interest income on loans of KB Capital.
162
Interest expense attributable to this segment increased 30.6% from ￦219 billion in 2016 to ￦286 billion in 2017, mainly due to an increase in interest expense on debentures of our holding company and KB Capital.
Net fee and commission income attributable to this segment increased 18.8% from ￦213 billion in 2016 to ￦253 billion in 2017, principally reflecting an increase in automobile rental and lease fees received by KB Capital, as well as increases in trust and other fiduciary fees received by KB Real Estate Trust.
Net gain (loss) from financial assets and liabilities at fair value through profit or loss under IAS 39 attributable to this segment changed from a net loss of ￦9 billion in 2016 to a net gain of ￦1 billion in 2017, primarily as a result of an increase in net gain related to financial instrumentsheld-for-trading of securities funds included in this segment.
Net other operating income (expense) attributable to this segment changed from an income of ￦53 billion in 2016 to an expense of ￦53 billion in 2017, which mainly reflected a decrease in net gain on disposal of equity interests held by KB Investment, as well as an increase in depreciation expenses with respect to leased assets of KB Capital.
General and administrative expenses attributable to this segment increased 9.4% from ￦267 billion in 2016 to ￦292 billion in 2017, principally due to increases in salary expenses of KB Capital and our holding company.
Provision for credit losses increased 46.5% from ￦43 billion in 2016 to ￦63 billion in 2017, primarily due to an increase in provision for loan losses for KB Capital and KB Investment.
Share of profit of associates attributable to this segment decreased 96.2% from ￦157 billion in 2016 to ￦6 billion in 2017, mainly reflecting a decrease in the share of profit of KB Insurance as a result of it becoming a consolidated subsidiary in May 2017.
Net other non-operating revenue attributable to this segment increased from nil in 2016 to ￦7 billion in 2017, principally reflecting gains on disposal of property recognized by KB Asset Management.
163
Financial Condition
The following table sets forth, as of the dates indicated, the principal components of our assets:
Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss (under IAS 39)
Loans to banks
Loans to customers other than banks:
Loans in Won
Loans in foreign currencies
Domestic import usance bills
Off-shore funding loans
Call loans
Bills bought in Won
Bills bought in foreign currencies
Guarantee payments under payment guarantee
Credit card receivables in Won
Credit card receivables in foreign currencies
Bonds purchased under repurchase agreements
Privately placed bonds
Factored receivables
Lease receivables
Loans for installment credit
Total loans to customers other than banks
Less:
Total loans, net
Other assets(2)
Includes investments in associates and joint ventures, investment properties, intangible assets, current income tax assets, deferred income tax assets, assets held for sale and other assets.
For further information on our assets, see “Item 4.B. Business Overview—Assets and Liabilities.”
164
Our total assets increased 9.8% from ￦436,786 billion as of December 31, 2017 to ￦479,588 billion as of December 31, 2018, principally due to a 9.6% increase in loans in Won from ￦252,645 billion as of December 31, 2017 to ￦276,859 billion as of December 31, 2018, as well as an increase in financial assets at fair value through profit or loss from ￦32,227 billion under IAS 39 as of December 31, 2017 to ￦50,988 billion as of December 31, 2018.
Our total assets increased 16.3% from ￦375,674 billion as of December 31, 2016 to ￦436,786 billion as of December 31, 2017, principally due to a 47.5% increase in financial investments from ￦45,148 billion as of December 31, 2016 to ￦66,608 billion as of December 31, 2017, as well as a 8.9% increase in loans in Won from ￦231,924 billion as of December 31, 2016 to ￦252,645 billion as of December 31, 2017.
Liabilities and Equity
The following table sets forth, as of the dates indicated, the principal components of our liabilities and our equity:
Liabilities:
Financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss (under IAS 39)
Insurance contract liabilities
Other liabilities(2)
Equity:
Equity attributable to stockholders
Includes derivative financial liabilities, current income tax liabilities, deferred income tax liabilities, defined benefit liabilities and other liabilities.
Our total liabilities increased 10.2% from ￦402,741 billion as of December 31, 2017 to ￦443,875 billion as of December 31, 2018. The increase was primarily due to an 8.2% increase in deposits from ￦255,800 billion
165
as of December 31, 2017 to ￦276,770 billion as of December 31, 2018, as well as a 18.4% increase in debentures from ￦44,993 billion as of December 31, 2017 to ￦53,279 billion as of December 31, 2018. Our deposits increased mainly as a result of an increase in time deposits.
Our total equity increased 4.9% from ￦34,045 billion as of December 31, 2017 to ￦35,713 billion as of December 31, 2018. This increase resulted principally from an increase in our retained earnings, which was attributable mainly to the profit we generated in 2018.
Our total liabilities increased 16.9% from ￦344,413 billion as of December 31, 2016 to ￦402,741 billion as of December 31, 2017. The increase was primarily due to a 336.2% increase in insurance contract liabilities from ￦7,291 billion as of December 31, 2016 to ￦31,801 billion as of December 31, 2017, mainly reflecting the addition of KB Insurance as a consolidated subsidiary, as well as a 6.7% increase in deposits from ￦239,731 billion as of December 31, 2016 to ￦255,800 billion as of December 31, 2017, and a 28.6% increase in debentures from ￦34,992 billion as of December 31, 2016 to ￦44,993 billion as of December 31, 2017. Our deposits increased mainly as a result of an increase in demand deposits.
Our total equity increased 8.9% from ￦31,261 billion as of December 31, 2016 to ￦34,045 billion as of December 31, 2017. This increase resulted principally from an increase in our retained earnings, which was attributable mainly to the profit we generated in 2017.
Our primary source of funding has historically been and continues to be deposits. Deposits amounted to ￦239,731 billion, ￦255,800 billion and ￦276,770 billion as of December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018, which represented approximately 79.7%, 77.6% and 76.2% of our total funding, respectively. We have been able to use customer deposits to finance our operations generally, including meeting a portion of our liquidity requirements. Although the majority of deposits are short-term, it has been our experience that the majority of our depositors generally roll over their deposits at maturity, thus providing us with a stable source of funding. However, in the event that a substantial number of our depositors do not roll over their deposits or otherwise decide to withdraw their deposited funds, we would need to place increased reliance on alternative sources of funding, some of which may be more expensive than customer deposits, in order to finance our operations. See “Item 3.D. Risk Factors—Risks relating to liquidity and capital management—Our funding is highly dependent on short-term deposits, which dependence may adversely affect our operations.” In particular, we may increase our utilization of alternative funding sources such as short-term borrowings and cash and cash equivalents (including funds from maturing loans), as well as liquidating our positions in financial assets and using the proceeds to fund parts of our operations, as necessary.
We also obtain funding through debentures and debts to meet our liquidity needs. Debentures represented 11.6%, 13.7% and 14.7% of our total funding as of December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018, respectively. Debts represented 8.7% of our total funding as of December 31, 2016 and 2017 and 9.1% of our total funding as of December 31, 2018. For further information on our sources of funding, see “Item 4.B. Business Overview—Assets and Liabilities—Funding.”
The Financial Services Commission of Korea requires each financial holding company in Korea to maintain specific Won and foreign currency liquidity ratios and each bank in Korea to maintain a liquidity coverage ratio and a foreign currency liquidity coverage ratio. These ratios require us and Kookmin Bank to keep the ratio of liquid assets to liquid liabilities above certain minimum levels. For a description of these requirements, see “Item 4.B. Business Overview—Supervision and Regulation—Principal Regulations Applicable to Financial Holding Companies—Liquidity” and “Item 4.B. Business Overview—Supervision and Regulation—Principal Regulations Applicable to Banks—Liquidity.”
166
We are exposed to liquidity risk arising from withdrawals of deposits, payments of insurance contract claims and refunds, and maturities of our debentures and debts, as well as the need to fund our lending, trading and investment activities (including our capital expenditures) and the management of our trading positions. The goal of liquidity management is for us to be able, even under adverse conditions, to meet all of our liability repayments on time and fund all investment opportunities. For an explanation of how we manage our liquidity risk, see “Item 11. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk—Liquidity Risk Management.” In March 2016, we entered into a land purchase agreement for the purchase of a site located in Yeouido, Seoul, on which we plan to construct a new headquarters building for Kookmin Bank. We anticipate that our total capital expenditures for the construction of the building, which is scheduled to be completed in 2020, will amount to approximately ￦425 billion, of which an aggregate amount of ￦171 billion was incurred as of December 31, 2018. In addition, in August 2016, we entered into a land purchase agreement for the purchase of a site located in Gimpo, in the outskirts of Seoul, in order to construct a new IT center for Kookmin Bank. We anticipate that our total capital expenditures for the construction of the IT center, which is scheduled to be completed in 2019, will amount to approximately ￦229 billion, of which an aggregate amount of ￦78 billion was incurred as of December 31, 2018.
We are a financial holding company, and substantially all of our operations are in our subsidiaries. Accordingly, we rely on distributions from our subsidiaries (as well as associates), direct borrowings and issuances of debt and equity securities to fund our liquidity obligations at the holding company level. We received aggregate dividends of ￦695 billion, ￦710 billion and ￦1,090 billion from our subsidiaries and associates in 2016, 2017 and 2018, respectively. See “Item 3.D. Risk Factors—Risks relating to our financial holding company structure and strategy.”
Asset Encumbrance
Part of our future funding and collateral needs are supported by assets readily available and unrestricted. The following table sets forth our assets that are available and those that are encumbered and not available to support our future funding and collateral needs as of December 31, 2018.
On-balance sheet
Total on-balance sheet
Off-balance sheet
Fair value of securities accepted as collateral
Total off-balance sheet
167
Represent assets that have been pledged as collateral against an existing liability or are otherwise restricted in their use to secure funding.
Represent those on- andoff-balance sheet assets that are not otherwise encumbered, and which are in freely transferable form.
Contractual Cash Obligations
The following table sets forth our contractual cash obligations (excluding short-term borrowings) as of December 31, 2018.
Long-term borrowing obligations(1)(2)
Operating lease obligations(3)
Capital lease obligations
Pension obligations
Deposits(2)(4)
Includes debt and debentures with original maturities of one year or more.
Includes estimated future interest payments, which have been estimated using contractual interest rates and scheduled contractual maturities of the outstanding debt obligations and borrowings as of December 31, 2018. In order to calculate future interest payments on debt with floating rates, we used contractual interest rates as of December 31, 2018.
This line item is not included within our consolidated statements of financial position.
Excluding demand deposits.
Commitments and Guarantees
The following table sets forth our commitments and guarantees as of December 31, 2018. These commitments and guarantees are not included within our consolidated statements of financial position.
Financial guarantees(1)
Confirmed acceptances and guarantees
Commitments
Includes ￦2,884 billion of irrevocable commitments to provide contingent liquidity credit lines to special purpose entities for which we serve as the administrator. See Note 40 of the notes to our consolidated financial statements.
Kookmin Bank is subject to capital adequacy requirements of the Financial Services Commission applicable to Korean banks. The requirements applicable commencing in December 2013 pursuant to amended Financial Services Commission regulations promulgated in July 2013 were formulated based on Basel III, which was first introduced by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, Bank for International Settlements in December 2009. Under the amended Financial Services Commission regulations, all banks in Korea are required to maintain certain minimum ratios of common equity Tier I capital, total Tier I capital and total Tier I and Tier II capital to risk-weighted assets. See “Item 4.B. Business Overview—Supervision and Regulation—Principal Regulations Applicable to Banks—Capital Adequacy.”
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As of December 31, 2018, Kookmin Bank’s total Tier I and Tier II capital adequacy ratio was 15.52%.
The following table sets forth a summary of Kookmin Bank’s capital and capital adequacy ratios as of December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018, based on applicable regulatory reporting standards.
Tier I capital:
Common equity Tier I capital
Paid-in capital
Capital reserves
Non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries
Additional Tier I capital
Tier II capital:
Revaluation reserves
Allowances for credit losses(1)
Hybrid debt
Subordinated debt
Valuation gain on financial investments
Total core and supplementary capital
Risk-weighted assets
Credit risk:
Market risk
Operational risk
Total Tier I and Tier II capital adequacy ratio
Tier I capital adequacy ratio
Common equity Tier I capital adequacy ratio
Tier II capital adequacy ratio
Under the standardized approach, allowances for credit losses in respect of credits classified as normal or precautionary are used to calculate Tier II capital only to the extent they represent up to 1.25% of credit risk-weighted assets. Under the internal ratings-based approach, allowances for credit losses, less estimated losses, are used to calculate Tier II capital only to the extent they represent up to 0.6% of credit risk-weighted assets.
In addition, we, as a bank holding company, are required to maintain certain minimum capital adequacy ratios pursuant to applicable regulations of the Financial Services Commission. See “Item 4.B. Business Overview—Supervision and Regulation—Principal Regulations Applicable to Financial Holding Companies—Capital Adequacy.”
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The following table sets forth a summary of our consolidated capital adequacy ratio as of December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018, based on applicable regulatory reporting standards.
Tier I capital
Total Tier I capital
Tier II capital
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
See Note 2.1 of the notes to our consolidated financial statements for a description of other recent accounting pronouncements under IFRS as issued by the IASB that have been issued but are not yet effective.
These matters are discussed under Item 5.A. and Item 5.B. above where relevant.
See “Item 5B. Liquidity and Capital Resources—Financial Condition—Contractual Cash Obligations” and “Item 5B. Liquidity and Capital Resources—Financial Condition—Commitments and Guarantees.”
See “Item 5B. Liquidity and Capital Resources—Financial Condition—Contractual Cash Obligations.”
See “Forward-Looking Statements.”
Board of Directors
Our board of directors, currently consisting of one executive director, one non-standing director and seven non-executive directors, has the ultimate responsibility for the management of our affairs.
Our articles of incorporation provide that:
we may have no more than 30 directors;
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the number of executive directors must be less than 50% of the total number of directors; and
we have five or more non-executive directors.
The term of office for each director is renewable and is subject to the Korean Commercial Code, the Act on the Corporate Governance of Financial Companies and related regulations.
Our board of directors meets on a regular basis to discuss and resolve material corporate matters. Additional extraordinary meetings may also be convened at the request of any director or any committee that serves under the board of directors.
The names and positions of our directors are set forth below. The business address of all of the directors is our registered office at 26, Gukjegeumyung-ro 8-gil, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul 07331, Korea.
Executive Director
The table below identifies our executive director as of the date of this annual report:
Name
Position
End of Term
Jong Kyoo Yoon
Our executive director does not have any significant activities outside KB Financial Group.
Jong Kyoo Yoon is our chairman and chief executive officer. He has been an executive director since November 2014. He previously served as the president and chief executive officer of Kookmin Bank, our deputy president, chief financial officer and chief risk management officer, a senior advisor of Kim & Chang, a senior executive vice president, chief financial officer and chief strategic officer of Kookmin Bank and a senior partner of Samil PricewaterhouseCoopers Korea. Mr. Yoon received a B.A. in business administration from Sungkyunkwan University, an M.B.A. from Seoul National University and a Ph.D. in business administration from Sungkyunkwan University.
Non-standing Director
The table below identifies our non-standing director as of the date of this annual report:
Yin Hur
Yin Hur has been a non-standing director since November 2017. He currently serves as the president and chief executive officer of Kookmin Bank. Mr. Hur previously served as a senior executive vice president of the sales group, a senior managing director of the strategy and finance planning group, and a managing director of the credit analysis division, at Kookmin Bank. Mr. Hur received a B.A. in law and an M.A. in law from Seoul National University.
Non-executive Directors
Our non-executive directors are selected based on the candidates’ knowledge and experience in diverse areas, such as financial business, accounting, finance, law and regulation, risk management and consumer protection. All seven non-executive directors below were nominated by our Non-executive Director Nominating Committee and approved by our shareholders.
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The table below identifies our non-executivedirectors as of the date of this annual report:
Suk Ryul Yoo
Stuart B. Solomon
Suk Ho Sonu
Myung Hee Choi
Kouwhan Jeong
Kyung Ho Kim
Jae Ha Park
The date on which each term will end will be the date of the general stockholders’ meeting in the relevant year unless otherwise specified.
Suk Ryul Yoo has been a non-executivedirector since March 2015. Mr. Yoo previously served as an advisor to Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., chairman of the Credit Finance Association and the president and chief executive officer of Samsung Total Petrochemicals Co., Ltd., Samsung Card Co., Ltd., Samsung Life Insurance Co., Ltd., Samsung Securities Co., Ltd. and Samsung Capital Co., Ltd. He received a B.A. in business administration from Seoul National University and an M.S. in industrial engineering from Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology.
Stuart B. Solomon has been a non-executivedirector since March 2017. Mr. Solomon previously served as the chairman, president and chief executive officer of MetLife Korea. He received an undergraduate degree from Syracuse University.
Suk Ho Sonu has been a non-executive director since March 2018. Mr. Sonu previously served as a visiting professor at Seoul National University Business School, the dean of Hongik Graduate School of Business Administration, president of the Korea Money and Finance Association and president of the Korea Finance Association. Mr. Sonu received a B.A. in applied mathematics from Seoul National University, an M.B.A. from the Kellogg School of Management of Northwestern University and a Ph.D. in finance from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Myung Hee Choi has been a non-executive director since March 2018. She is currently a vice president at the Korea Internal Control Assessment Institute. Ms. Choi previously served as an auditor at the Korea Exchange Bank, a director of the Financial Supervisory Service and senior operations officer of Citibank Korea, Seoul Branch. Ms. Choi received a B.A. in English from Yonsei University.
Kouwhan Jeong has been anon-executive director since March 2018. He is currently the president attorney-at-law of Nambujeil Law and Notary Office Inc. He previously served as the chairperson of the Consumer Dispute Settlement Commission of the Korea Consumer Agency, a standing mediator at Korea Medical Dispute Mediation and Arbitration Agency and the branch chief prosecutor at the Bucheon Branch Office of the Incheon District Prosecutor’s Office. Mr. Jeong received a B.A. in law from Seoul National University.
Kyung Ho Kim has been a non-executive director since March 2019. He is currently a professor at Hongik University School of Business. Mr. Kim previously served as the vice president of Hongik University, an outside director of Shinhan Investment Corp., an outside director of Citibank Korea Inc., a vice chairman of the Korea Accounting Standards Board and president of the Korea Association for Government Accounting. Mr. Kim received a B.A. in business administration from Seoul National University and an M.S. and a Ph.D. in management from Purdue University.
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Jae Ha Park has been a non-executive director since March 2015. He is currently a senior research fellow at the Korea Institute of Finance. Mr. Park previously served as a deputy dean of the Asian Development Bank Institute, a vice president of the Korea Institute of Finance, a vice chairman of the Korea Money and Finance Association and a senior counselor to the Minister of the former Ministry of Finance and Economy. He has also served as a non-executive director of Shinhan Bank, Daewoo Securities Co., Ltd. and Jeonbuk Bank. Mr. Park received a B.A. in economics from Seoul National University and a Ph.D. in economics from Pennsylvania State University.
Any director having an interest in a transaction that is subject to approval by the board of directors may not vote at the meeting during which the board approves the transaction.
Executive Officers
The table below identifies our executive officers who are not executive directors as of the date of this annual report:
Date of Birth
Ki-Hwan Kim
Pil Kyu Im
Kyung Yup Cho
Young Hyuk Jo
Chang Kwon Lee
Hyun Jin Shin
Nam Hoon Cho
Chan Il Park
Soon Bum Kwon
Jeong Rim Park
Jong Hee Yang
Dong Cheol Lee
Bo Youl Oh
Young Gil Kim
Deok Soon Shin
Chai Hyun Sung
Dong Whan Han
Woo Yeul Lee
Jin Soo Yoon
Jin Gyu Maeng
None of the executive officers has any significant activities outside KB Financial Group.
Ki-Hwan Kim is a deputy president and our chief finance officer. Mr. Kim previously served as our chief risk management officer and as a managing director of Kookmin Bank’s consumer protection group. He received a B.A. in economics from Seoul National University.
Pil Kyu Im is a deputy president and our chief human resources officer. He previously served as our chief compliance officer and as the branch manager of Kookmin Bank’s Gwanghwamoon branch and Star Tower branch. Mr. Im received a B.A. in agricultural economics from Korea University.
Kyung Yup Cho is a deputy president and heads KB Research. He previously served as a senior editor at MaeKyung Media Group and the head of financial news, political news, social affairs and international news at Maeil Business Newspaper. Mr. Cho received a B.A. and a Ph.D. in business administration from Yonsei University.
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Young Hyuk Jo is a deputy president and heads the Audit Department. He previously served as the head of Kookmin Bank’s Ansan financial center branch. Mr. Jo received a B.A. in economics from Dong-A University.
Chang Kwon Lee is a senior managing director and our chief strategy officer. He previously served as a general manager of KB Kookmin Card’s strategic planning department. Mr. Lee received a B.A. in applied statistics from Korea University.
Hyun Jin Shin is a senior managing director and our chief risk management officer. He previously served as a chief risk management officer of KB Insurance and as the general manager of our risk management department. Mr. Shin received a B.A. in economics from Korea University and an M.B.A. from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology.
Nam Hoon Cho is a managing director and our chief global strategy officer. He previously served as a managing director of KB Securities’ global business division and management supporting division. Mr. Cho received a B.A. in economics from Sungkyunkwan University.
Chan Il Park is a managing director and our chief compliance officer. He previously served as the head of Kookmin Bank’s Guro-dong financial center branch and Seoyeouido branch.
Soon Bum Kwon is a managing director. He previously served as an executive secretary for our company and Kookmin Bank, as well as a general manager of Kookmin Bank’s human resources department. Mr. Kwon received a B.A. in science of public administration from Korea University.
Jeong Rim Park is the head of our capital markets business unit and also serves as the chief executive officer of KB Securities. She previously served as a senior executive vice president of Kookmin Bank and the head of its wealth management group, as well as a deputy president of KB Securities in charge of its wealth management division. Ms. Park received a B.A. in business administration and an M.B.A. from Seoul National University.
Jong Hee Yang is the head of our insurance business unit and also serves as the chief executive officer of KB Insurance. He previously served as a deputy president in charge of our finance, human resources and investor relations divisions. Mr. Yang received a B.A. in history from Seoul National University.
Dong Cheol Lee is the head of our retail customer business unit and also serves as the chief executive officer of KB Kookmin Card. He previously served as a deputy president in charge of our strategy planning department. Mr. Lee received a B.A. in law from Korea University.
Bo Youl Oh is the head of our corporate and investment banking business unit. He also serves as a senior executive vice president of Kookmin Bank and heads its corporate investment banking customer group, as well as a deputy president of KB Securities in charge of its investment banking division. He previously served as the head of Kookmin Bank’s credit analysis division and corporate analysis department. Mr. Oh received a B.A. in global management from Hanyang Cyber University.
Young Gil Kim is the head of our wealth management business unit. He also serves as a senior managing director of Kookmin Bank’s wealth management group and as a deputy president of KB Securities’ wealth management division. He previously served as the head of Kookmin Bank’s investment product & service division. Mr. Kim received a B.S. in statistical computation from Chungnam National University.
Deok Soon Shin is the head of our small and medium enterprise business unit. He also serves as a senior managing director of Kookmin Bank’s small and medium enterprise customer group. He previously served as the representative of Kookmin Bank’s southern regional sales group. Mr. Shin received a B.A. in trade from Kyunghee University.
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Chai Hyun Sung is our chief public relation officer. He also serves as a senior managing director of Kookmin Bank and heads its consumer brand strategy group. He previously served as our chief human resources officer and as an executive secretary for our company and Kookmin Bank. Mr. Sung received a B.A. in accounting from Chonbuk National University.
Dong Whan Han is our chief digital innovation officer. He also serves as a senior managing director of Kookmin Bank’s digital business group. He previously served as the head of our office of the board of directors and a general manager of Kookmin Bank’s strategic planning department. Mr. Han received an M.S. in geography from Seoul National University and an M.B.A. from the University of Washington.
Woo Yeul Lee is our chief information technology officer. He also serves as a senior managing director of Kookmin Bank’s information technology group. He previously served as the representative of Kookmin Bank’s northern regional sales group. Mr. Lee received a B.A. in agricultural economics from Korea University.
Jin Soo Yoon is our chief data officer. He also serves as a senior managing director of the data strategy division at Kookmin Bank and KB Kookmin Card. He previously served as the head of N division of Hyundai Card Co., Ltd. and Hyundai Capital Services, Inc. Mr. Yoon received a B.S. in computer science from Seoul National University and an M.S. and a Ph.D. from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology.
Jin Gyu Maeng is a general manager of our planning and coordination office. He also serves as a general manager of Kookmin Bank’s planning and coordination office. He previously served as the head of Kookmin bank’s Yeouido financial center branch. Mr. Maeng received a B.A. in economics from Dongguk University.
The aggregate remuneration paid and benefits-in-kind granted, excluding stock grants, by us and our subsidiaries to our chairman and chief executive officer, our other executive and non-standing directors, our non-executivedirectors and our executive officers for the year ended December 31, 2018 was ￦13,694 million. For the year ended December 31, 2018, we set aside ￦470 million for allowances for severance and retirement benefits for our chairman and chief executive officer, the other executive directors and our executive officers.
The compensation of our directors and executive officers who received total annual compensation exceeding ￦500 million in 2018 was as follows:
Total Compensation in 2018(in millions of Won)(1)
Incentive Compensation for PaymentSubsequent to 2018 (number of shares)(2)
Includes annual salary and performance-based incentive payments paid by us and our subsidiaries.
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Consists of performance-based shares expected to be granted by us and our subsidiaries in the future. The actual payment amount will be determined at the time of payment based on the then-current market price of our common shares.
Also includes a performance-based stock grant pursuant to a performance evaluation over a three-year period from November 21, 2014 to November 20, 2017.
Also includes retirement payments from Kookmin Bank.
We do not have service contracts with any of our directors or executive officers providing for benefits upon termination of their employment with us.
In 2008, we established a stock grant plan. Pursuant to this plan, we have entered into performance share agreements with certain of our and our subsidiaries’ directors and executive officers, whereby we may grant shares of our common stock (or the equivalent monetary amount based on the market value of such shares) within specified periods as long-term incentive performance shares in accordance with pre-determined performance targets. See “Item 6.E. Share Ownership—Performance Share Agreements.” In 2018, we incurred ￦10,930 million of compensation costs relating to stock grants under such agreements. See Note 31.2 of the notes to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this annual report.
See “Item 6.A. Directors and Senior Management” above for information concerning the terms of office and contractual employment arrangements with our directors and executive officers.
Committees of the Board of Directors
We currently have the following committees that serve under the board:
the Audit Committee;
the Risk Management Committee;
the Evaluation & Compensation Committee;
the Non-Executive Director Nominating Committee;
the Audit Committee Member Nominating Committee;
the CEO Nominating Committee; and
the Subsidiaries’ CEO Director Nominating Committee.
Each committee member is appointed by the board of directors, except for members of the Audit Committee, who are elected at the general meeting of stockholders.
Audit Committee
The committee currently consists of four non-executive directors, Suk Ho Sonu, Kouwhan Jeong, Jae Ha Park and Kyung Ho Kim. The chairperson of the Audit Committee is Kyung Ho Kim. The committee oversees our financial reporting and approves the appointment of our independent registered public accounting firm. The committee also reviews our financial information, auditor’s examinations, key financial statement issues, the plans and evaluation of internal control and the administration of our financial affairs by the board of directors. In connection with the general meetings of stockholders, the committee examines the agenda for, and financial statements and other reports to be submitted by, the board of directors to each general meeting of stockholders. The committee holds regular meetings every quarter.
Risk Management Committee
The committee currently consists of four non-executive directors, Stuart B. Solomon, Suk Ho Sonu, Myung Hee Choi and Kyung Ho Kim. The chairperson of the committee is Suk Ho Sonu. The Risk Management
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Committee oversees and makes determinations on all issues relating to our comprehensive risk management function. In order to ensure our stable financial condition and to maximize our profits, the committee monitors our overall risk exposure and reviews our compliance with risk policies and risk limits. In addition, the committee reviews risk and control strategies and policies, evaluates whether each risk is at an adequate level, establishes or abolishes risk management divisions and reviews risk-based capital allocations. The committee holds regular meetings every quarter.
Evaluation & Compensation Committee
The committee currently consists of four non-executive directors, Suk Ryul Yoo, Myung Hee Choi, Kouwhan Jeong and Jae Ha Park. The chairperson of the committee is Myung Hee Choi. The Evaluation and Compensation Committee reviews compensation schemes and compensation levels of us and our subsidiaries. The committee is also responsible for deliberating and deciding the compensation of directors, evaluating management’s performance and implementing management training programs, as well as deciding and supervising the performance-based annual salary of the president and the executive officers of us and our subsidiaries. The committee holds regular meetings semi-annually.
Non-executive Director Nominating Committee
The committee currently consists of four non-executive directors, Suk Ryul Yoo, Suk Ho Sonu, Myung Hee Choi and Jae Ha Park. The chairperson of the committee is Jae Ha Park. The committee is responsible for the management and evaluation of a pool of non-executive director candidates and recommendation of the non-executive director candidates to be nominated at the annual general meeting of shareholders.
Audit Committee Member Nominating Committee
The committee is non-standing and currently has no members. The last meeting of the committee was held in February 2019 to nominate new Audit Committee members. The committee oversees the selection of Audit Committee member candidates and recommends them annually sometime prior to the general stockholders meeting. The term of office of its members is from the first meeting of the committee held to nominate the Audit Committee members until the Audit Committee members are appointed.
CEO Nominating Committee
The committee currently consists of all seven of ournon-executive directors. The chairperson of the CEO Nominating Committee is Suk Ryul Yoo. The committee is responsible for establishing and monitoring procedures for our CEO candidate cultivation and succession program pursuant to our “CEO Succession Regulations,” which cover, among other things, the qualifications of CEO candidates, continued maintenance of the candidate pool and the CEO candidate nomination process. The committee holds regular meetings semi-annually.
Subsidiaries’ CEO Director Nominating Committee
The committee currently consists of one non-standing director, Yin Hur, and three non-executive directors, Suk Ryul Yoo, Stuart B. Solomon and Kouwhan Jeong, together with our chairman and chief executive officer, Jong Kyoo Yoon. The chairperson of the Subsidiaries’ CEO Director Nominating Committee is Jong Kyoo Yoon. The committee is responsible for candidate cultivation and succession programs for chief executive officers of our subsidiaries. The committee holds regular meetings semi-annually.
As of December 31, 2018, we had a total of 170 full-time employees, excluding 15 executive officers, at our financial holding company.
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The following table sets forth information regarding our employees at both our financial holding company and our subsidiaries as of the dates indicated:
KB Financial Group
Other subsidiaries
Excluding executive officers.
We consider our relations with our employees to be satisfactory. We and our subsidiaries each have a jointlabor-management council which serves as a forum for ongoing discussions between our management and employees. At seven of our subsidiaries, Kookmin Bank, KB Securities, KB Insurance, KB Kookmin Card, KB Capital, KB Real Estate Trust and KB Credit Information, our employees have a labor union. Every year, the unions at Kookmin Bank, KB Securities, KB Insurance, KB Kookmin Card, KB Capital, KB Real Estate Trust and KB Credit Information and their respective managements negotiate and enter into new collective bargaining agreements and negotiate annual wage adjustments.
Our compensation packages consist of base salary and base bonuses. We also provide performance-based compensation to employees and management officers, including those of our subsidiaries, depending on level of responsibility of the employee or officer and business of the relevant subsidiary. Typically, executive officers, heads of regional headquarters and employees in positions that require professional skills, such as fund managers and dealers, are compensated depending on their individual annual performance evaluation. Also, Kookmin Bank has implemented a profit-sharing system in order to enhance the performance of Kookmin Bank’s employees. Under this system, Kookmin Bank pays bonuses to its employees, in addition to the base salary and depending on Kookmin Bank’s annual performance.
In January 2016, we implemented a “mileage stock” program, pursuant to which we may grant to our and our subsidiaries’ employees performance-based cash payments that correspond to the market value of our common shares. The accumulated “miles” of common shares can be exercised for cash during a two-year period commencing on the one-year anniversary of the grant date.
We provide a wide range of benefits to our employees, including our executive directors. Specific benefits provided may vary for each of our subsidiaries but generally include medical insurance, employment insurance, workers compensation, employee and spouse life insurance, free medical examinations, child tuition and fee reimbursement, disabled child financial assistance and reimbursement for medical expenses, and other benefits may be provided depending on the subsidiary.
In accordance with the National Pension Act, we contribute an amount equal to 4.5% of employee wages, and each employee contributes 4.5% of his or her wages, into each employee’s personal pension account. In addition, in accordance with the Guarantee of Worker’s Retirement Benefits Act, we have adopted a retirement pension plan for our employees. Contributions under the retirement pension plan are deposited annually into a
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financial institution, and an employee may elect to receive a monthly pension or a lump-sum amount upon retirement. Our retirement pension plans are provided in the form of a defined benefit plan and a defined contribution plan. The defined benefit plan guarantees a certain payout at retirement, according to a fixed formula based on the employee’s average salary and the number of years for which the employee has been a plan member. The defined contribution plan, in which the employer’s contribution is determined in advance based on one twelfth of an employee’s total annual pay, is managed directly by the employees. Under Korean law, we may not terminate the employment of full-time employees except under certain limited circumstances. However, from time to time, we invite our employees to apply for our early retirement programs, which provide for varying amounts of severance pay based on the duration of time an employee has worked for us, along with several other key features. We believe that such programs enhance our productivity and efficiency by improving our labor structure.
In June 2009, we established an employee stock ownership association. All of our employees are eligible to participate in this association. We are not required to, and do not, make cash contributions to this plan. Members of our employee stock ownership association have pre-emptive rights to acquire up to 20% of our shares issued in public offerings by us pursuant to the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act. In August 2009, we offered to members of our employee stock ownership association 6,000,000 of the 30,000,000 new shares of common stock to be issued in our rights offering to our existing shareholders, and the entire amount was subscribed by members of our employee stock ownership association. The employee stock ownership association held 2,490,746 shares of our common stock as of December 31, 2018.
Employees of Kookmin Bank have been eligible to participate in its employee stock ownership association, which will be terminated once all of our common stock held by the association (which the association received following the transfer of Kookmin Bank shares held by it as a result of the comprehensive stock transfer pursuant to which we were established) have been distributed to the relevant Kookmin Bank employees at the requests of such employees following the expiration of the required holding periods. As of December 31, 2018, such employee stock ownership association held 463,615 shares of our common stock.
In order to develop our next generation of leaders and enhance the operational capability of our employees at each of our subsidiaries, we operate various employee training programs. These programs, which are aimed at cultivating financial specialists with higher levels of management and business skills, developing regional experts for increased global capabilities and enhancing employee loyalty, comprise a number of customized programs such as training courses for employees of different positions, domestic and foreign MBA courses and intensive human resources development programs for high performers to cultivate future leaders. For example, Kookmin Bank offers training programs at its employees’ worksites to facilitate access to training, as well as a foreign regional expert training program and a global language training course. We also provide financial and other support for our employees to develop their finance-related knowledge and skills by enrolling in training courses or engaging in self-study programs. The broad spectrum of training programs, combined with thestate-of-the-art technologies such as cyber training, satellite broadcasting andmobile-learning, maximizes the level of exposure of the trainees to the contents of the programs. We also believe that our training scheme based on classified training courses and a development evaluation system has facilitated systemic development of employee skills and a spontaneous learning environment.
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As of March 31, 2019, the persons who are currently our directors or executive officers, as a group, held an aggregate of 42,555 shares of our common stock, representing approximately 0.01% of the issued shares of our common stock as of such date. None of these persons individually held more than 1% of the outstanding shares of our common stock as of such date. The following table presents information regarding our directors and executive officers who beneficially owned our shares as of March 31, 2019:
Name of Executive Officer or Director
Performance Share Agreements
Pursuant to a stock grant plan we established in 2008, we have entered into performance share agreements with certain of our and our subsidiaries’ directors and executive officers, pursuant to which we may grant shares of our common stock (or the equivalent monetary amount based on the market value of such shares) within specified periods aslong-term incentive performance shares in accordance with pre-determined performance targets. Since January 2010, in accordance with the best practice guidelines for outside directors of banking institutions announced by the Korea Federation of Banks, which have been replaced with the Financial Corporate Governance Code issued by the Financial Services Commission in December 2014, we have not entered into any performance share agreements with our non-executive directors.
Actual disbursements under the performance share agreements with our and our subsidiaries’ directors and executive officers have generally been in the form of cash disbursements of equivalent monetary amounts based on the market value of our shares.
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The following table presents information regarding the beneficial ownership of our shares at December 31, 2018 by each person or entity known to us to own beneficially more than 5% of our issued and outstanding shares.
Except as otherwise indicated, each stockholder identified by name has:
sole voting and investment power with respect to its shares; and
record and beneficial ownership with respect to its shares.
Beneficial Owner
Korean National Pension Service
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.(2)
Calculated based on 418,111,537 shares of our common stock issued as of December 31, 2018.
As depositary bank.
Other than as set forth above, no other person or entity known by us to be acting in concert, directly or indirectly, jointly or separately, owned 5.0% or more of the issued shares of our common stock or exercised control or could exercise control over us as of December 31, 2018. None of our major stockholders has different voting rights from our other stockholders.
As of December 31, 2018, there were 395,551,297 shares of common stock outstanding. Of the total outstanding shares, 26,726,442 shares were held in the form of ADSs and 96,153,910 shares were held of record in the form of common stock by residents in the United States. As of December 31, 2018, the number of registered holders of our ADSs was 18 and the number of holders of our common stock in the United States was 626.
As of December 31, 2018, we had an aggregate of ￦2,340 million in loans outstanding to our executive officers and directors, executive officers and directors of Kookmin Bank and chief executive officers of our other subsidiaries, including family members of such individuals. In addition, as of such date, we had loans outstanding to various companies whose directors or executive officers were serving concurrently as our directors or executive officers. See Note 43 of the notes to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this annual report. All of these loans were made in the ordinary course of business, on substantially the same terms, including interest rate and collateral, as those prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with other persons and did not involve more than the normal risk of collectability or present other unfavorable features.
None of our directors or officers have or had any interest in any transactions effected by us that are or were unusual in their nature or conditions or significant to our business which were effected during the current or immediately preceding year or were effected during an earlier year and remain in any respect outstanding or unperformed.
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See “Item 18. Financial Statements” and pages F-1 through F-244.
Legal Proceedings
Excluding the legal proceedings discussed below, we and our subsidiaries are not a party to any legal or administrative proceedings and no proceedings are known by any of us or our subsidiaries to be contemplated by governmental authorities or third parties, which, if adversely determined, may have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial condition or results of operations.
In June 2010, Fairfield Sentry Limited, or Fairfield, which is currently in liquidation and whose assets were directly or indirectly invested with Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC, or BLMIS, filed a lawsuit in the Supreme Court of the State of New York against Kookmin Bank, which acted as a trustee bank for its clients who invested in Fairfield. Fairfield seeks recovery of approximately US$42 million paid to Kookmin Bank by its clients in connection with share redemptions on the ground that such payments were made by mistake, based on inflated values resulting from BLMIS’ fraud. In September 2010, the case was transferred to the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York, which in turn ordered that the case be returned to a state court in September 2011. While the transfer of the case is still pending, the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York issued an opinion in December 2018 holding that the claims against Kookmin Bank were deficient, although an order implementing such opinion has not been entered. Fairfield has filed similar actions against numerous other fund investors to seek recovery of redemption payments.
In May 2012, the trustee appointed for the liquidation of BLMIS filed a lawsuit against Kookmin Bank in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York. The trustee seeks recovery of approximately US$42 million, the amount of funds that were allegedly redeemed by Kookmin Bank from Fairfield between June 2004 and January 2006. The trustee alleges that Fairfield was a “feeder fund” that invested in BLMIS and that redemptions from such BLMIS feeder fund are avoidable and recoverable under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code and New York law. The United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York dismissed the case in March 2017, and the trustee appealed such decision to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, which vacated the judgment and remanded the case to the Bankruptcy Court in February 2019, for which Kookmin Bank filed a motion to reconsider. The trustee has filed similar clawback actions against numerous other institutions.
In November 2012, Kookmin Bank filed a lawsuit against the Export-Import Bank of Korea and other creditor financial institutions comprising the creditors’ committee of a Korean shipbuilding company which was a borrower of Kookmin Bank and was in workout. Kookmin Bank voted against extending new credit to such borrower and exercised its appraisal rights. Kookmin Bank sought ￦103 billion as compensation for damages and payment of the purchase price of debt held by Kookmin Bank. In November 2012, the Export-Import Bank of Korea and other creditor financial institutions of the borrower filed a counter lawsuit against Kookmin Bank seeking ￦46 billion in damages in connection with the borrower’s debt restructuring plan. In August 2014, the Seoul Central District Court ruled partially in favor of Kookmin Bank in its lawsuit against the Export-Import Bank of Korea and other creditor financial institutions of the borrower, but ruled against Kookmin Bank in the counter lawsuit brought against Kookmin Bank. Both cases were appealed to the Seoul High Court, which dismissed the appeals in February 2016. Both cases were further appealed to the Supreme Court of Korea, which dismissed the appeals in early 2019.
In February 2014, the Financial Services Commission suspended the new credit card issuance and other related activities of KB Kookmin Card for three months from February to May 2014, in response to an incident
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involving the misappropriation of the personal information of a large number of its customers by an employee of the Korea Credit Bureau in the first half of 2013. Specifically, during such suspension period, KB Kookmin Card was prohibited from engaging in the following activities:
adding new subscribers for credit cards, prepaid cards and debit cards or issuing such types of cards (except as permitted by the chairman of the Financial Services Commission for public policy purposes);
providing new or additional credit lines to credit card customers; and
providing new services through mail order or telemarketing channels or related to travel or insurance products.
In connection with the misappropriation incident, as of December 31, 2018, certain of KB Kookmin Card’s customers had filed a total of 113 lawsuits against KB Kookmin Card with the aggregate amount of claimed damages amounting to approximately ￦6.9 billion. The final outcome of such lawsuits remains uncertain. In addition, KB Kookmin Card could become subject to additional litigation and may incur significant costs relating to the compensation of customers for losses incurred as a result of the fraudulent use of the misappropriated personal information.
In February 2018, pursuant to a request by the Financial Supervisory Service, the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office of Korea commenced an investigation into alleged irregularities in hiring practices at certain Korean banks, including Kookmin Bank. According to the allegations made by the Financial Supervisory Service, Kookmin Bank unfairly gave favorable treatment to certain individuals, including relatives of the former president of Kookmin Bank (our current chairman and chief executive officer) and our former non-executive director, in connection with their hiring in 2015 and 2016. Following the investigation, in October 2018, the Seoul Southern District Court sentenced four current and former Kookmin Bank employees involved in such hiring to probation and ordered Kookmin Bank to pay a fine in the amount of ￦5 million. The individuals and Kookmin Bank have since appealed such ruling to the Seoul High Court.
In May 2008, Kookmin Bank, in its capacity as a trustee for, and pursuant to instructions from, an asset management company, facilitated the investment of ￦53.9 billion (in the form of a loan) by a real estate fund managed by such asset management company to a real estate developer in Cambodia. Upon the failure of such real estate developer to repay such loan in 2012, Kookmin Bank obtained four orders of provisional attachment from 2014 to 2017 with respect to properties in Cambodia owned by the real estate developer, in accordance with instructions from the asset management company. The property that had been subject to the first provisional attachment was changed in February 2014, and the second to fourth provisional attachments were canceled in February 2017. Subsequently, the real estate developer filed two lawsuits against Kookmin Bank in Cambodian courts for damages in the amount of US$12.1 million and US$44.4 million, respectively, on the ground that the provisional attachments were excessive. The first lawsuit is currently pending in the Cambodian supreme court, following the issuance of rulings against Kookmin Bank by the trial court and the appellate court in December 2017 and September 2018, respectively, while the second lawsuit is currently pending in the appellate court, following the issuance of a ruling against Kookmin Bank by the trial court in October 2018.
Dividends
Dividends must be approved by the stockholders at the annual general meeting of stockholders. Cash dividends may be paid out of retained earnings that have not been appropriated to statutory reserves. See “Item 10.B. Memorandum and Articles of Association—Description of Capital Stock—Dividends and Other Distributions.”
The table below sets forth, for the periods indicated, the dividend per share of common stock and the total amount of dividends declared and paid by us in respect of the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018.
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The dividends set out for each of the years below were paid within 30 days after our annual stockholders meeting, which was held no later than March of the following year.
Fiscal Year
2016(2)
2017(3)
2018(4)
Won amounts are expressed in U.S. dollars at the noon buying rate in effect at the end of the relevant periods as quoted by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York in the United States.
On February 9, 2017, our board of directors passed a board resolution recommending a cash dividend of ￦1,250 per common share (before dividend tax), representing 25.0% of the par value of each share, for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016. This resolution was approved and ratified by our stockholders on March 24, 2017.
On February 8, 2018, our board of directors passed a board resolution recommending a cash dividend of ￦1,920 per common share (before dividend tax), representing 38.4% of the par value of each share, for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017. This resolution was approved and ratified by our stockholders on March 23, 2018.
On February 8, 2019, our board of directors passed a board resolution recommending a cash dividend of ￦1,920 per common share (before dividend tax), representing 38.4% of the par value of each share, for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018. This resolution was approved and ratified by our stockholders on March 27, 2019.
Future dividends will depend upon our revenues, cash flow, financial condition and other factors. As an owner of ADSs, you will be entitled to receive dividends payable in respect of the shares of common stock represented by such ADSs.
For a description of the tax consequences of dividends paid to our stockholders, see “Item 10.E. Taxation—United States Taxation” and “—Korean Taxation—Taxation of Dividends.”
Offering and Listing Details
Principal Trading Market
The principal trading market for our common stock is the KRX KOSPI Market. Our common stock has been listed on the KRX KOSPI Market since October 10, 2008 under the identifying code 105560, and the ADSs have been listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “KB” since September 29, 2008. The ADSs are identified by the CUSIP number 48241A105.
Restrictions Applicable to ADSs
No Korean governmental approval is necessary for the sale and purchase of our ADSs in the secondary market outside Korea or for the withdrawal of shares of our common stock underlying the ADSs and the delivery inside Korea of shares in connection with the withdrawal, provided that a foreigner who intends to acquire the shares must obtain an investment registration card from the Financial Supervisory Service as described below. The acquisition of the shares by a foreigner must be immediately reported to the governor of the Financial Supervisory Service, either by the foreigner or by his standing proxy in Korea.
Persons who have acquired shares of our common stock as a result of the withdrawal of shares underlying our ADSs may exercise their preemptive rights for new shares, participate in free distributions and receive dividends on shares without any further Korean governmental approval.
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Under current Korean laws and regulations, the depositary is required to obtain our prior consent for the number of shares of our common stock to be deposited in any given proposed deposit that exceeds the difference between:
the aggregate number of shares of our common stock deposited by us for the issuance of our ADSs (including deposits in connection with the initial issuance and all subsequent offerings of our ADSs and stock dividends or other distributions related to these ADSs); and
the number of shares of our common stock on deposit with the depositary at the time of such proposed deposit.
We have agreed to grant such consent to the extent that the total number of shares on deposit with the depositary would not exceed 116,583,985 at any time.
Restrictions Applicable to Shares
As a result of amendments to the Foreign Exchange Transaction Act of Korea, the regulations thereunder and Financial Services Commission regulations (which we refer to collectively as the “Investment Rules”), foreigners may invest, with limited exceptions and subject to procedural requirements, in all shares of Korean companies, whether listed on the KRX KOSPI Market or on the KRX KOSDAQ Market, unless prohibited by specific laws. Foreign investors may trade shares listed on the KRX KOSPI Market or on the KRX KOSDAQ Market only through the KRX KOSPI Market or the KRX KOSDAQ Market, except in limited circumstances, including:
odd-lot trading of shares;
acquisition of shares (which we refer to as “Converted Shares”) by exercise of warrants, conversion rights or exchange rights under bonds with warrants, convertible bonds or exchangeable bonds or withdrawal rights under depositary receipts issued outside of Korea by a Korean company;
acquisition of shares as a result of inheritance, donation, bequest or exercise of stockholders’ rights, including preemptive rights or rights to participate in free distributions and receive dividends;
over-the-counter transactions between foreigners of a class of shares for which the ceiling on aggregate acquisition by foreigners has been reached or exceeded subject to certain exceptions; and
sale and purchase of shares at fair value between foreigners who are part of an investor group comprised of foreign companies investing under the control of a common investment manager pursuant to applicable laws or contract.
The Investment Rules require a foreign investor who wishes to invest in shares on the KRX KOSPI Market or the KRX KOSDAQ Market (including Converted Shares) to register its identity with the Financial Supervisory Service prior to making any such investment. The registration requirement does not, however, apply to foreign investors who acquire Converted Shares with the intention of selling such Converted Shares within three months from the date of acquisition. Upon registration, the Financial Supervisory Service will issue to the foreign investor an investment registration card, which must be presented each time the foreign investor opens a brokerage account with a financial investment company with a brokerage license. Foreigners eligible to obtain an investment registration card include foreign nationals who have not been residing in Korea for a consecutive period of six months or more, foreign governments, foreign municipal authorities, foreign public institutions, international financial institutions or similar international organizations, corporations incorporated under foreign laws and any person in any additional category designated by the Enforcement Decree of the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act. All Korean offices of a foreign corporation as a group are treated as a separate foreigner from the offices of the corporation outside Korea for the purpose of investment registration. However, a foreign corporation or depositary issuing depositary receipts may obtain one or more investment registration cards in its name in certain circumstances as described in the relevant regulations.
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Upon a foreign investor’s purchase of shares through the KRX KOSPI Market or the KRX KOSDAQ Market, no separate report by the investor is required because the investment registration card system is designed to control and oversee foreign investment through a computer system. However, a foreign investor’s acquisition or sale of shares outside the KRX KOSPI Market or the KRX KOSDAQ Market (as discussed above) must be reported by the foreign investor or his standing proxy to the governor of the Financial Supervisory Service at the time of each such acquisition or sale. In particular, if a foreign investor acquires or sells his shares in connection with a tender offer or odd-lot trading of shares, such foreign investor or his standing proxy must ensure that the financial investment company that was engaged to facilitate the transaction reports such transaction to the governor of the Financial Supervisory Service. A foreign investor may appoint a standing proxy from among the Korea Securities Depository, foreign exchange banks (including domestic branches of foreign banks), financial investment companies with a dealing and/or brokerage license (including domestic branches of foreign financial investment companies with such license), financial investment companies with a collective investment license (including domestic branches of foreign financial investment companies with such license) and internationally recognized custodians which will act as a standing proxy to exercise stockholders’ rights or perform any matters related to the foregoing activities if the foreign investor does not perform these activities himself. Generally, a foreign investor may not permit any person, other than its standing proxy, to exercise rights relating to his shares or perform any tasks related thereto on his behalf. However, a foreign investor may be exempted from complying with these standing proxy rules with the approval of the governor of the Financial Supervisory Service in cases deemed inevitable, including by reason of conflict between laws of Korea and the home country of the foreign investor.
Certificates evidencing shares of Korean companies must be kept in the custody of an eligible custodian in Korea. The same entities eligible to act as a standing proxy are eligible to act as a custodian of shares for a non-residentor foreign investor. A foreign investor must ensure that its custodian deposits its shares with the Korea Securities Depository. A foreign investor may be exempted from complying with this deposit requirement with the approval of the governor of the Financial Supervisory Service in circumstances where compliance with that requirement is made impracticable, including cases where compliance would contravene the laws of the foreign investors’ home country.
An investment by a foreign investor in 10% or more of the issued and outstanding shares with voting rights of a Korean company is defined as a foreign direct investment under the Foreign Investment Promotion Act of Korea. Generally, a foreign direct investment must be reported to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy of Korea. The acquisition of shares of a Korean company by a foreign investor may also be subject to certain foreign or other shareholding restrictions in the event that the restrictions are prescribed in a specific law that regulates the business of the Korean company. For a description of such restrictions applicable to Korean banks and bank holding companies (such as us), see “Item 4.B. Business Overview—Supervision and Regulation.”
Plan of Distribution
Markets
See “Item 9.A. Offering and Listing Details.”
Selling Shareholders
Dilution
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Expenses of the Issue
Share Capital
Memorandum and Articles of Association
Description of Capital Stock
Set forth below is information relating to our capital stock, including brief summaries of certain provisions of our articles of incorporation, the Korean Commercial Code, Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act and certain related laws of Korea, all as currently in effect. The following summaries do not purport to be complete and are subject to the articles of incorporation and the applicable provisions of the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act, the Korean Commercial Code, and certain other related laws of Korea.
As of December 31, 2018, our authorized share capital is 1,000,000,000 shares. Pursuant to our articles of incorporation, we are authorized to issue shares with preferred dividend, non-voting shares, class shares with conversion rights, class shares with redemption rights and shares with a combination of all or any of the foregoing characteristics (which we refer to collectively as “Class Shares”), as well as common shares. Subject to applicable laws and regulations, we are authorized to issue Class Shares up to one-half of all of our issued and outstanding shares.
Under our articles of incorporation, dividends on non-voting shares with preferred dividend are required to be at least 1% per annum of the par value and the board of directors must determine at the time of issuance of such shares the dividend rate, type of distributable properties, method of determining the value of distributable properties and conditions on payment of dividends. Also, we may, pursuant to a resolution of the board of directors, issue such non-voting shares with preferred dividend as redeemable shares that may be redeemed with profits at the relevant shareholder’s or our discretion, up to one-half of all of our issued and outstanding shares.
In addition, pursuant to a resolution of the board of directors, we may issue shares that are convertible into common shares or Class Shares at the request of the relevant shareholders, up to 20% of all of our issued and outstanding shares. The period during which a relevant shareholder may make a request for conversion may be determined by a resolution of the board of directors and must be a period between one and ten years from the issue date.
Furthermore, through an amendment of the articles of incorporation, we may create new classes of shares, which may be common shares or Class Shares having additional features as prescribed under the Korean Commercial Code. See “—Voting Rights.”
As of the date of this annual report, 418,111,537 shares of common stock were issued and 395,551,297 shares of common stock were outstanding. No Class Shares are currently outstanding. All of the issued and outstanding shares are fully-paid and non-assessable, and are in registered form. Our authorized but unissued share capital consists of 581,888,463 shares. We may issue the unissued shares without further stockholder approval, subject to a board resolution as provided in the articles of incorporation. See “—Preemptive Rights and Issuances of Additional Shares” and “—Dividends and Other Distributions—Distribution of Free Shares.”
Our articles of incorporation provide that our stockholders may, by special resolution, grant to our and our subsidiaries’ officers and employees stock options exercisable for up to 15% of the total number of our issued
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and outstanding shares. Our board of directors may also grant stock options to officers and employees other than directors exercisable for up to 1% of our issued and outstanding shares, provided that such grant must be approved by a resolution of the subsequent general meeting of stockholders. As of March 31, 2019, none of our officers, directors and employees held options to purchase shares of our common stock.
Share certificates are issued in denominations of one, five, ten, 50, 100, 500, 1,000 and 10,000 shares.
Organization and Register
We are a financial holding company established under the Financial Holding Company Act. We are registered with the commercial registry office of Seoul Central District Court.
Dividends and Other Distributions
Dividends are distributed to stockholders in proportion to the number of shares of the relevant class of capital stock owned by each stockholder following approval by the stockholders at an annual general meeting of stockholders. Subject to the requirements of the Korean Commercial Code and other applicable laws and regulations, we expect to pay full annual dividends on newly issued shares for the year in which the new shares are issued.
We declare our dividend annually at the annual general meeting of stockholders, which are held within three months after the end of each fiscal year. Once declared, the annual dividend must be paid to the stockholders of record as of the end of the preceding fiscal year within one month after the annual general meeting unless otherwise resolved thereby. Annual dividends may be distributed either in cash or in shares provided that shares must be distributed at par value and, if the market price of the shares is less than their par value, dividends in shares may not exceed one-half of the total annual dividend (including dividends in shares).
Under the Korean Commercial Code and our articles of incorporation, we do not have an obligation to pay any annual dividend unclaimed for five years from the payment date.
The Financial Holding Company Act and related regulations require that each time a Korean financial holding company pays an annual dividend, it must set aside in its legal reserve to stated capital an amount equal to at least one-tenth of its net income after tax until the amount set aside reaches at least the aggregate amount of its stated capital. Unless it sets aside this amount, a Korean financial holding company may not pay an annual dividend. We intend to set aside allowances for loan losses and reserves for severance pay in addition to this legal reserve.
For information regarding Korean taxes on dividends, see “Item 10.E. Taxation—Korean Taxation.”
Distribution of Free Shares
In addition to permitting dividends in the form of shares to be paid out of retained or current earnings, the Korean Commercial Code permits a company to distribute to its stockholders, in the form of free shares, an amount transferred from the capital surplus or legal reserve to stated capital. These free shares must be distributed pro rata to all stockholders. Our articles of incorporation provide that the types of shares to be distributed to the holders of non-voting shares with preferred dividend will be the same type of non-voting shares with preferred dividend held by such holders.
Preemptive Rights and Issuances of Additional Shares
Unless otherwise provided in the Korean Commercial Code, a company may issue authorized but unissued shares at such times and upon such terms as the board of directors of the company may determine. The company
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must offer the new shares on uniform terms to all stockholders who have preemptive rights and who are listed on the stockholders’ register as of the applicable record date. Our stockholders will be entitled to subscribe for any newly issued shares in proportion to their existing shareholdings. However, as provided in our articles of incorporation, new shares may be issued to persons other than existing stockholders if such shares are:
(1) publicly offered pursuant to the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act, (2) issued to an employee stock ownership association, (3) issued upon exercise of stock options pursuant to the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act, (4) issued for the issuance of our depositary receipts, (5) issued to certain foreign or domestic financial institutions or institutional investors to raise funds to meet urgent needs for our management or operations or (6) issued primarily to a third party who has contributed to the management of our business, including by providing financing, credit, advanced financing technique, know-how or entering into close business alliances, except that, in the case of issuances of new shares under (1), (4), (5) and (6) above, the number of new shares issued to persons other than existing stockholders may not exceed 50% of our total issued and outstanding capital stock.
Public notice of the preemptive rights to new shares and the transferability thereof must be given not less than two weeks (excluding the period during which the stockholders’ register is closed) prior to the record date. We will notify the stockholders or persons other than existing stockholders, who are entitled to subscribe for newly issued shares of the deadline for subscription at least two weeks prior to the deadline. If such stockholders or persons fail to subscribe on or before such deadline, their preemptive rights will lapse. Our board of directors may determine how to distribute shares in respect of which preemptive rights have not been exercised or where fractions of shares occur.
Under the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act, members of a company’s employee stock ownership association, whether or not they are stockholders, will have a preemptive right, subject to certain exceptions, to subscribe for up to 20% of the shares publicly offered pursuant to the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act. This right is exercisable only to the extent that the total number of shares so acquired and held by such members does not exceed 20% of the total number of shares then issued and outstanding.
Voting Rights
Each outstanding share of our common stock is entitled to one vote per share. However, voting rights with respect to shares of common stock that we hold or any of our subsidiaries holds may not be exercised. Unless stated otherwise in a company’s articles of incorporation, the Korean Commercial Code permits holders of an aggregate of 1% or more of the issued and outstanding shares with voting rights to request cumulative voting when electing two or more directors. Our articles of incorporation do not prohibit cumulative voting. The Korean Commercial Code and our articles of incorporation provide that an ordinary resolution may be adopted if approval is obtained from the holders of at least a majority of those shares of common stock present or represented at such meeting and such majority also represents at leastone-fourth of the total of our issued and outstanding voting shares. Holders of non-voting shares (other than enfranchisednon-voting shares) will not be entitled to vote on any resolution or to receive notice of any general meeting of stockholders unless the agenda of the meeting includes consideration of a resolution on which such holders are entitled to vote. The Korean Commercial Code provides that a company’s articles of incorporation may prescribe conditions for the enfranchisement of non-voting shares. For example, if our annual general stockholders’ meeting resolves not to pay to holders of non-voting shares with preferred dividend the annual dividend as determined by the board of directors at the time of issuance of such shares, the holders of non-voting shares with preferred dividend will be entitled to exercise voting rights from the general stockholders’ meeting following the meeting adopting such resolution to the end of a meeting to declare to pay such dividend with respect to the non-voting shares with preferred dividend. Holders of such enfranchised non-voting shares with preferred dividend will have the same rights as holders of common stock to request, receive notice of, attend and vote at a general meeting of stockholders.
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The Korean Commercial Code provides that to amend the articles of incorporation, which is also required for any change to the authorized share capital of the company, and in certain other instances, including removal of a director of a company, dissolution, merger or consolidation of a company, transfer of the whole or a significant part of the business of a company, acquisition of all of the business of any other company, acquisition of a part of the business of any other company having a material effect on the business of the company or issuance of new shares at a price lower than their par value, a special resolution must be adopted by the approval of the holders of at least two-thirds of those shares present or represented at such meeting and such special majority also represents at least one-third of the total issued and outstanding shares with voting rights of the company.
In addition, in the case of amendments to the articles of incorporation or any merger or consolidation of a company or in certain other cases, where the rights or interest of the holders of Class Shares are adversely affected, a resolution must be adopted by a separate meeting of holders of Class Shares. Such a resolution may be adopted if the approval is obtained from stockholders of at least two-thirds of the Class Shares present or represented at such meeting and such shares also represent at least one-third of the total issued and outstanding Class Shares of the company.
A stockholder may exercise his voting rights by proxy given to another stockholder. The proxy must present the power of attorney prior to the start of a meeting of stockholders.
Liquidation Rights
In the event we are liquidated, the assets remaining after the payment of all debts, liquidation expenses and taxes will first be distributed to holders of Class Shares which have a preference right in respect of the distribution of residual properties as determined by our board of directors at the time of their issuance, and the residue thereafter will be distributed to the other stockholders in proportion to the number of shares held by them.
General Meetings of Stockholders
There are two types of general meetings of stockholders: annual general meetings and extraordinary general meetings. We are required to convene our annual general meeting within three months after the end of each fiscal year. Subject to a board resolution or court approval, an extraordinary general meeting of stockholders may be held when necessary or at the request of the holders of an aggregate of 3% or more of our issued and outstanding shares, or the holders of an aggregate of 1.5% or more of our issued and outstanding stock with voting rights, who have held those shares at least for six months, under the Act on the Corporate Governance of Financial Companies and its sub-regulations. Under the Korean Commercial Code, an extraordinary general meeting of stockholders may also be convened at the request of our Audit Committee, subject to a board resolution or court approval. Holders of non-voting shares may be entitled to request a general meeting of stockholders only to the extent the non-votingshares have become enfranchised as described under the section entitled “—Voting Rights” above, hereinafter referred to as “enfranchised non-voting shares.” Meeting agendas will be determined by the board of directors or proposed by holders of an aggregate of 3% or more of the issued and outstanding shares with voting rights, or by holders of an aggregate of 0.1% or more of our issued and outstanding shares with voting rights, who have held those shares for at least six months, by way of a written proposal to the board of directors at least six weeks prior to the meeting, under the Act on the Corporate Governance of Financial Companies and its sub-regulations. Written notices or e-mail notices stating the date, place and agenda of the meeting must be given to the stockholders at least two weeks prior to the date of the general meeting of stockholders. Notice may, however, be given to holders of 1% or less of the total number of issued and outstanding shares which are entitled to vote, either by placing at least two public notices at least two weeks in advance of the meeting in at least two daily newspapers or by placing a notice through the electronic disclosure system operated by the Financial Supervisory Service or the Korea Exchange. Stockholders who are not on the stockholders’ register as of the record date will not be entitled to receive notice of the general meeting of stockholders, and they will not be entitled to attend or vote at such meeting. Holders of enfranchised non-voting
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shares who are on the stockholders’ register as of the record date will be entitled to receive notice of the general meeting of stockholders and they will be entitled to attend and vote at such meeting. Otherwise, holders of non-voting shares will not be entitled to receive notice of or vote at general meetings of stockholders.
The general meeting of stockholders will be held at our head office, which is our registered head office, or, if necessary, may be held anywhere in the vicinity of our head office.
Rights of Dissenting Stockholders
Pursuant to the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act and the Act on the Improvement of the Structure of the Financial Industry, in certain limited circumstances (including, without limitation, if we transfer all or any significant part of our business, if we acquire a part of the business of any other company and such acquisition has a material effect on our business or if we merge or consolidate with another company), dissenting holders of shares of our common stock and our stock with preferred dividends will have the right to require us to purchase their shares. To exercise such a right, stockholders must submit to us a written notice of their intention to dissent prior to the general meeting of stockholders. Within 20 days (10 days in the case of a stock transfer or exchange for the purposes of establishing a financial holding company or acquiring all issued shares of an existing subsidiary under the Financial Holding Company Act) after the date on which the relevant resolution is passed at such meeting, such dissenting stockholders must request in writing that we purchase their shares. We are obligated to purchase the shares from dissenting stockholders within one month after the end of such request period at a price to be determined by negotiation between the stockholder and us. If we cannot agree on a price with the stockholder through such negotiations, the purchase price will be the arithmetic mean of:
the weighted average of the closing stock prices on the KRX KOSPI Market for thetwo-month period prior to the date of the adoption of the relevant board of directors’ resolution;
the weighted average of the closing stock prices on the KRX KOSPI Market for theone-month period prior to the date of the adoption of the relevant board of directors’ resolution; and
the weighted average of the closing stock prices on the KRX KOSPI Market for theone-week period prior to the date of the adoption of the relevant board of directors’ resolution.
However, any dissenting stockholder who wishes to contest the purchase price may bring a claim in court.
Required Disclosure of Ownership
Any person whose direct or beneficial ownership of our common stock with voting rights, whether in the form of shares of common stock or ADSs, certificates representing the rights to subscribe for shares or equity-related debt securities including convertible bonds and bonds with warrants (which we refer to collectively as “Equity Securities”), together with the Equity Securities beneficially owned by certain related persons or by any person acting in concert with the person, accounts for 5% or more of the total issued and outstanding shares (Equity Securities of us held by such persons and treasury stock) is required to report the status and purpose (in terms of whether the purpose of the shareholding is to exercise control over our management) of the holdings to the Financial Services Commission and the KRX KOSPI Market within five business days after reaching the 5% ownership interest. In addition, any change in (i) the ownership interest subsequent to the report that equals or exceeds 1% of the total issued and outstanding Equity Securities of us or (ii) the purpose of the shareholding is required to be reported to the Financial Services Commission and the KRX KOSPI Market within five business days from the date of the change.
Violation of these reporting requirements may subject a person to criminal sanctions such as fines or imprisonment, an administrative fine of up to 0.001% of the aggregate market value of the total issued and outstanding stock or ￦500 million, whichever is lower, and/or a loss of voting rights with respect to the ownership of Equity Securities exceeding 5% of the total issued and outstanding Equity Securities with respect to which the reporting requirements were violated. Furthermore, the Financial Services Commission may order the disposal of the unreported Equity Securities.
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In addition to the reporting requirements described above, any person whose direct or beneficial ownership of our stock accounts for 10% or more of the total issued and outstanding stock (which we refer to as a “major stockholder”) must report the status of his/her shareholding to the Korea Securities and Futures Commission and the KRX KOSPI Market within five days after becoming a major stockholder. In addition, any change in the ownership interest subsequent to the report must be reported to the Korea Securities and Futures Commission and the KRX KOSPI Market within five days of the occurrence of the change, provided that such reporting obligation would not apply if the change in the ownership interest consists of less than 1,000 shares and the amount of such change is less than ￦10 million. Violation of these reporting requirements may subject a person to criminal sanctions such as fines or imprisonment.
Other Provisions
Register of Stockholders and Record Dates
We maintain the register of our stockholders at our principal office in Seoul, Korea. We register transfers of shares on the register of stockholders upon presentation of the share certificates.
The record date for annual dividends is December 31. For the purpose of determining the holders of shares entitled to annual dividends, the register of stockholders will be closed for the period beginning from January 1 and ending on January 31. Further, the Korean Commercial Code and our articles of incorporation permit us upon at least two weeks’ public notice to set a record date and/or close the register of stockholders for not more than three months for the purpose of determining the stockholders entitled to certain rights pertaining to the shares. However, in the event that the register of stockholders is closed for the period beginning from January 1 and ending on January 31 for the purpose of determining the holders of shares entitled to attend the annual general meeting of stockholders, the Korean Commercial Code and our articles of incorporation waive the requirement to provide at least two weeks’ public notice. The trading of shares and the delivery of certificates in respect thereof may continue while the register of stockholders is closed. Also, we may distribute dividends to stockholders on a quarterly basis, and the record dates for these quarterly dividends are the end of March, June and September of each year.
Annual Reports
At least one week before the annual general meeting of stockholders, we must make our management report to shareholders and audited financial statements available for inspection at our head office and at all of our branch offices. Copies of this report, the audited financial statements and any resolutions adopted at the general meeting of stockholders are available to our stockholders.
Under the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act, we must file with the Financial Services Commission and the KRX KOSPI Market an annual business report within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year, a half-year business report within 45 days after the end of the first six months of each fiscal year and quarterly business reports within 45 days after the end of the first three months and nine months of each fiscal year, respectively. Copies of such business reports will be available for public inspection at the Financial Services Commission and the KRX KOSPI Market.
Transfer of Shares
Under the Korean Commercial Code, the transfer of shares is effected by the delivery of share certificates. The Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act provides, however, that in case of a company listed on the KRX KOSPI Market such as us, share transfers can be effected by the book-entry method. In order to assert stockholders’ rights against us, the transferee must have his name and address registered on the register of stockholders. For this purpose, stockholders are required to file with us their name, address and seal. Non-resident stockholders must notify us of the name of their proxy in Korea to which our notice can be sent.
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Under current Korean regulations, the following entities may act as agents and provide related services for foreign stockholders:
the Korea Securities Depository;
internationally recognized foreign custodians;
financial investment companies with a dealing license (including domestic branches of foreign financial investment companies with such license);
financial investment companies with a brokerage license (including domestic branches of foreign financial investment companies with such license);
foreign exchange banks (including domestic branches of foreign banks); and
financial investment companies with a collective investment license (including domestic branches of foreign financial investment companies with such license).
In addition, foreign stockholders may appoint a standing proxy among the foregoing and generally may not allow any person other than the standing proxy to exercise rights to the acquired shares or perform any tasks related thereto on their behalf. Certain foreign exchange controls and securities regulations apply to the transfer of shares by non-residents or non-Koreans. See “Item 9.A. Offering and Listing Details” and “Item 10.D. Exchange Controls.” Except as provided in the Financial Holding Company Act, the ceiling on the aggregate shareholdings of a single stockholder and persons who stand in a special relationship with such stockholder is 10% of our issued and outstanding voting shares. See “Item 4.B. Business Overview—Supervision and Regulation—Principal Regulations Applicable to Financial Holding Companies—Restrictions on Ownership of a Financial Holding Company.”
Acquisition of Our Shares
Under the Korean Commercial Code, we may acquire our own shares upon a resolution of a general meeting of shareholders by either (i) purchasing them on a stock exchange or (ii) purchasing a number of shares, other than redeemable shares as set forth in Article 345, Paragraph (1) of the Korean Commercial Code, from each shareholder in proportion to their existing shareholding ratio through the methods set forth in the Presidential Decree, provided that the total purchase price does not exceed the amount of our profit that may be distributed as dividends in respect of the immediately preceding fiscal year.
Additionally, pursuant to the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act and regulations under the Financial Holding Company Act and after submission of certain reports to the Financial Services Commission, we may purchase our own shares on the KRX KOSPI Market or through a tender offer, subject to the restrictions that:
the aggregate purchase price of such shares may not exceed the total amount available for distribution of dividends at the end of the preceding fiscal year; and
the purchase of such shares shall meet the risk-weighted capital adequacy ratio requirements prescribed in the regulations under the Financial Holding Company Act based on Bank for International Settlements standards.
Subject to certain limited exceptions, our subsidiaries will not be permitted to acquire our shares pursuant to the Financial Holding Company Act.
Material Contracts
None.
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Exchange Controls
The Foreign Exchange Transaction Act of Korea and the Enforcement Decree and regulations under that Act and Decree, which we refer to collectively as the “Foreign Exchange Transaction Laws,” regulate investment in Korean securities bynon-residents and issuance of securities outside Korea by Korean companies. Non-residents may invest in Korean securities pursuant to the Foreign Exchange Transaction Laws. The Financial Services Commission has also adopted, pursuant to its authority under the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act, regulations that restrict investment by foreigners in Korean securities and regulate issuance of securities outside Korea by Korean companies.
Under the Foreign Exchange Transaction Laws, (1) if the Korean government deems that it is inevitable due to the outbreak of natural calamities, wars, conflict of arms or grave and sudden changes in domestic or foreign economic circumstances or other situations equivalent thereto, the Ministry of Economy and Finance may temporarily suspend payment, receipt or the whole or part of transactions to which the Foreign Exchange Transaction Laws apply, or impose an obligation to safe-keep, deposit or sell means of payment in or to certain Korean governmental agencies or financial institutions; and (2) if the Korean government deems that international balance of payments and international finance are confronted or are likely to be confronted with serious difficulty or the movement of capital between Korea and abroad brings or is likely to bring about serious obstacles in carrying out its currency policies, exchange rate policies and other macroeconomic policies, the Ministry of Economy and Finance may take measures to require any person who intends to perform capital transactions to obtain permission or to require any person who performs capital transactions to deposit part of the payments received in such transactions at certain Korean governmental agencies or financial institutions, in each case subject to certain limitations.
Under the Foreign Exchange Transaction Laws, a foreign investor who intends to acquire shares must designate a foreign exchange bank at which he must open a foreign currency account and a Won account exclusively for stock investments. No approval is required for remittance into Korea and deposit of foreign currency funds in the foreign currency account. Foreign currency funds may be transferred from the foreign currency account at the time required to place a deposit for, or settle the purchase price of, a stock purchase transaction to a Won account opened at a financial investment company with a dealing and/or brokerage license. Funds in the foreign currency account may be remitted abroad without any Korean governmental approval.
Dividends on shares of Korean companies are paid in Won. No Korean governmental approval is required for foreign investors to receive dividends on, or the Won proceeds of the sale of, any shares to be paid, received and retained in Korea. Dividends paid on, and the Won proceeds of the sale of, any shares held by a non-resident of Korea must be deposited either in a Won account with the investor’s financial investment company with a dealing and/or brokerage license or in his Won account. Funds in the investor’s Won account may be transferred to his foreign currency account or withdrawn for local living expenses up to certain limitations. Funds in the Won account may also be used for future investment in shares or for payment of the subscription price of new shares obtained through the exercise of preemptive rights.
Financial investment companies with dealing and/or brokerage licenses are allowed to open foreign currency accounts with foreign exchange banks exclusively for accommodating foreign investors’ stock investments in Korea. Through these accounts, such financial investment companies may enter into foreign exchange transactions on a limited basis, such as conversion of foreign currency funds and Won funds, either as a counterparty to or on behalf of foreign investors, without the investors having to open their own accounts with foreign exchange banks.
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Taxation
United States Taxation
This summary describes certain U.S. federal income tax consequences for a U.S. holder (as defined below) of acquiring, owning, and disposing of common shares or ADSs. This summary applies to you only if you hold the common shares or ADSs as capital assets for tax purposes. This summary does not apply to you if you are a member of a class of holders subject to special rules, such as:
a dealer in securities or currencies;
a trader in securities that elects to use amark-to-market method of accounting for securities holdings;
a bank;
a life insurance company;
a tax-exempt organization;
an entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes or a partner in such partnership;
a person that holds common shares or ADSs that are a hedge or that are hedged against interest rate or currency risks;
a person that holds common shares or ADSs as part of a straddle or conversion transaction for tax purposes;
a person whose functional currency for tax purposes is not the U.S. dollar; or
a person that owns or is deemed to own 10% or more of our stock, measured by voting power or value.
This summary is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, its legislative history, existing and proposed regulations promulgated thereunder, and published rulings and court decisions, all as currently in effect. These laws are subject to change, possibly on a retroactive basis.
This summary does not discuss the application of the U.S. federal estate and gift taxes, the Medicare net investment income tax or the alternative minimum tax.
Please consult your own tax advisers concerning the U.S. federal, state, local, and other tax consequences of purchasing, owning, and disposing of common shares or ADSs in your particular circumstances.
For purposes of this summary, you are a “U.S. holder” if you are the beneficial owner of a common share or an ADS and are:
a citizen or resident of the United States;
a U.S. domestic corporation; or
otherwise subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net income basis with respect to income from the common share or ADS.
In general, if you are the beneficial owner of ADSs, you will be treated as the beneficial owner of the common shares represented by those ADSs for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and no gain or loss will be recognized if you exchange an ADS for the common share represented by that ADS.
The gross amount of cash dividends that you receive (prior to deduction of Korean taxes) generally will be subject to U.S. federal income taxation as foreign source “passive category” dividend income and will not be
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eligible for the dividends received deduction. Dividends paid in Won will be included in your income in a U.S. dollar amount calculated by reference to the exchange rate in effect on the date of your receipt of the dividend, in the case of common shares, or the depositary’s receipt, in the case of ADSs, regardless of whether the payment is in fact converted into U.S. dollars. If such a dividend is converted into U.S. dollars on the date of receipt, you generally should not be required to recognize foreign currency gain or loss in respect of the dividend income.
Subject to certain exceptions for short-term and hedged positions, the U.S. dollar amount of dividends received by an individual with respect to the ADSs will be subject to taxation at reduced rates if the dividends are “qualified dividends.” Dividends paid on the common shares or ADSs will be treated as qualified dividends if (i) the common shares or ADSs are readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States or we are eligible for the benefits of a comprehensive tax treaty with the United States that the U.S. Treasury determines is satisfactory for purposes of this provision and that includes an exchange of information program; and (ii) we were not, in the year prior to the year in which the dividend was paid, and are not, in the year in which the dividend is paid, a passive foreign investment company as defined for U.S. federal income tax purposes (“PFIC”). The ADSs are listed on the New York Stock Exchange, and will qualify as readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States so long as they are so listed. In addition, the U.S. Treasury has determined that the Korea-United States income tax treaty meets the requirements for reduced rates of taxation, and we believe we are eligible for the benefits of that treaty. Based on our audited financial statements, we believe that we were not a PFIC in our 2017 or 2018 taxable year. In addition, based on our audited financial statements and current expectations regarding our income, assets and activities, we do not anticipate becoming a PFIC for our 2019 taxable year. Therefore, we believe that dividends received by U.S. holders with respect to either common shares or ADSs will be “qualified dividends.” Holders should consult their own tax advisers regarding the availability of the reduced dividend tax rate in light of their own particular circumstances.
Distributions of additional shares in respect of common shares or ADSs that are made as part of a pro-rata distribution to all of our stockholders generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax.
Sale or Other Disposition
For U.S. federal income tax purposes, gain or loss you realize on a sale or other disposition of common shares or ADSs generally will be treated as U.S. source capital gain or loss, and will be long-term capital gain or loss if the common shares or ADSs were held for more than one year. Your ability to offset capital losses against ordinary income is limited. Long-term capital gain recognized by an individual U.S. holder generally is subject to taxation at reduced rates.
If a U.S. holder sells or otherwise disposes of our common shares or ADSs in exchange for currency other than U.S. dollars, the amount realized generally will be the U.S. dollar value of the currency received at the spot rate on the date of sale or other disposition (or, if the shares are traded on an established securities market at such time, in the case of cash basis and electing accrual basis U.S. holders, the settlement date). An accrual basis U.S. holder that does not elect to determine the amount realized using the spot exchange rate on the settlement date will recognize foreign currency gain or loss equal to the difference between the U.S. dollar value of the amount received based on the spot exchange rates in effect on the date of the sale or other disposition and the settlement date. If an accrual basis U.S. holder makes the election described in the first sentence of this paragraph, it must be applied consistently from year to year and cannot be revoked without the consent of the Internal Revenue Service. A U.S. holder should consult its own tax advisors regarding the treatment of any foreign currency gain or loss realized with respect to any currency received in a sale or other disposition of the common shares or ADSs.
Foreign Tax Credit Considerations
You should consult your own tax advisers to determine whether you are subject to any special rules that limit your ability to make effective use of foreign tax credits, including the possible adverse impact of failing to
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take advantage of benefits under the income tax treaty between the United States and Korea. If no such rules apply, you may claim a credit against your U.S. federal income tax liability for Korean taxes withheld from dividends on the common shares or ADSs, so long as you have owned the common shares or ADSs (and not entered into specified kinds of hedging transactions) for at least a 16-dayperiod that includes the ex-dividend date. Instead of claiming a credit, you may, if you so elect, deduct such Korean taxes in computing your taxable income, subject to generally applicable limitations under U.S. tax law. Korean taxes withheld from a distribution of additional shares that is not subject to U.S. tax may be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as imposed on “general category” income. Such treatment could affect your ability to utilize any available foreign tax credit in respect of such taxes.
Any Korean securities transaction tax or agriculture and fishery special surtax that you pay will not be creditable for foreign tax credit purposes.
Similarly, a U.S. holder will not be able to claim a foreign tax credit against its U.S. federal income tax liability for any Korean inheritance or gift tax imposed in respect of the common shares or ADSs.
Foreign tax credits will not be allowed for withholding taxes imposed in respect of certain short-termor hedged positions in securities and may not be allowed in respect of arrangements in which a U.S. holder’s expected economic profit is insubstantial.
The calculation of foreign tax credits and, in the case of a U.S. holder that elects to deduct foreign taxes, the availability of deductions involve the application of complex rules that depend on a U.S. holder’s particular circumstances. You should consult your own tax advisers regarding the creditability or deductibility of such taxes.
Specified Foreign Financial Assets
Certain U.S. holders that own “specified foreign financial assets” with an aggregate value in excess of US$50,000 are generally required to file an information statement along with their tax returns, currently on Form 8938, with respect to such assets. “Specified foreign financial assets” include any financial accounts held at anon-U.S. financial institution, as well as securities issued by a non-U.S. issuer (which would include the common shares or ADSs) that are not held in accounts maintained by financial institutions. Higher reporting thresholds apply to certain individuals living abroad and to certain married individuals. Regulations extend this reporting requirement to certain entities that are treated as formed or availed of to hold direct or indirect interests in specified foreign financial assets based on certain objective criteria. U.S. holders who fail to report the required information could be subject to substantial penalties. Prospective investors should consult their own tax advisers concerning the application of these rules to their investment in the common shares or ADSs, including the application of the rules to their particular circumstances.
U.S. Information Reporting and Backup Withholding Rules
Payments of dividends and sales proceeds that are made within the United States or through certainU.S.-related financial intermediaries are subject to information reporting and may be subject to backup withholding unless the holder (i) is a corporation or other exempt recipient and demonstrates this when required or (ii) provides a taxpayer identification number and certifies that no loss of exemption from backup withholding has occurred. Holders that are not U.S. persons generally are not subject to information reporting or backup withholding. However, such a holder may be required to provide a certification of its non-U.S. status in connection with payments received within the United States or through aU.S.-related financial intermediary.
Korean Taxation
The following summary of Korean tax considerations applies to you so long as you are not:
a resident of Korea;
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a corporation with its head office, principal place of business or place of effective management in Korea; or
engaged in a trade or business in Korea through a permanent establishment or a fixed base to which the relevant income is attributable or with which the relevant income is effectively connected.
Taxation of Dividends on Common Shares or ADSs
We will deduct Korean withholding tax from dividends paid to you (whether payable in cash or in shares) at a rate of 22.0% (inclusive of local income surtax). If you are a qualified resident and a beneficial owner of the dividends in a country that has entered into a tax treaty with Korea, you may qualify for a reduced rate of Korean withholding tax. See “—Tax Treaties” below for a discussion on treaty benefits. If we distribute to you free shares representing a transfer of earning surplus or certain capital reserves into paid-in capital, that distribution may be subject to Korean withholding tax.
Taxation of Capital Gains from Transfer of Common Shares or ADSs
As a general rule, capital gains earned by non-residents upon transfer of our common shares or ADSs are subject to Korean withholding tax at the lower of (1) 11.0% (inclusive of local income surtax) of the gross proceeds realized or (2) subject to the production of satisfactory evidence of acquisition costs and certain direct transaction costs of the common shares or ADSs, 22.0% (inclusive of local income surtax) of the net realized gain, unless exempt from Korean income taxation under the applicable Korean tax treaty with the non-resident’scountry of tax residence. See “—Tax Treaties” below for a discussion on treaty benefits. Even if you do not qualify for an exemption under a tax treaty, you will not be subject to the foregoing withholding tax on capital gains if you qualify under the relevant Korean domestic tax law exemptions discussed in the following paragraphs.
In regards to the transfer of our common shares through the Korea Exchange, you will not be subject to the withholding tax on capital gains (as described in the preceding paragraph) if you (1) have no permanent establishment in Korea and (2) did not own or have not owned (together with any shares owned by any person with which you have a certain special relationship) 25% or more of the total issued and outstanding shares, which may include the common shares represented by the ADSs, at any time during the calendar year in which the sale occurs and during the five consecutive calendar years prior to the calendar year in which the sale occurs.
Under Korean tax law, ADSs are viewed as shares of common stock for capital gains tax purposes. Accordingly, capital gains from the sale or disposition of ADSs are taxed (if such sale or disposition constitutes a taxable event) as if such gains are from the sale or disposition of the underlying common shares. Capital gains that you earn (regardless of whether you have a permanent establishment in Korea) from a transfer of ADSs outside of Korea will generally be exempt from Korean income taxation by virtue of the Special Tax Treatment Control Law of Korea, or the STTCL, provided that the issuance of the ADSs is deemed to be an overseas issuance under the STTCL. However, if you transfer ADSs after having converted the underlying common shares, such exemption under the STTCL will not apply and you will be required to file a corporate income tax return and pay tax in Korea with respect to any capital gains derived from such transfer unless the purchaser or a financial investment company with a brokerage license, as applicable, withholds and pays such tax.
If you are subject to tax on capital gains with respect to the sale of ADSs, or of our common shares you acquired as a result of a withdrawal, the purchaser or, in the case of the sale of the common shares on the Korea Exchange or through a financial investment company with a brokerage license in Korea, such financial investment company is required to withhold Korean tax on capital gains from the sales price in an amount equal to the lower of (1) 11.0% (inclusive of local income surtax) of the gross realization proceeds or (2) subject to the production of satisfactory evidence of acquisition costs and certain direct transaction costs of the common shares or ADSs, 22.0% (inclusive of local income surtax) of the net realized gain, and to make payment of these
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amounts to the Korean tax authority, unless you establish your entitlement to an exemption under an applicable tax treaty or domestic tax law. See the discussion under “—Tax Treaties” below for an additional explanation on claiming treaty benefits.
Tax Treaties
Korea has entered into a number of income tax treaties with other countries (including the United States), which would reduce or exempt Korean withholding tax on dividends on, and capital gains on transfer of, the common shares or ADSs. For example, under the Korea-United States income tax treaty, reduced rates of Korean withholding tax of 16.5% or 11.0% (depending on your shareholding ratio and inclusive of local income surtax) on dividends and an exemption from Korean withholding tax on capital gains are available to residents of the United States that are beneficial owners of the relevant dividend income or capital gains, subject to certain exceptions. However, under Article 17 (Investment or Holding Companies) of the Korea-United States income tax treaty, such reduced rates and exemption do not apply if (i) you are a United States corporation, (ii) by reason of any special measures, the tax imposed on you by the United States with respect to such dividend income or capital gains is substantially less than the tax generally imposed by the United States on corporate profits and (iii) 25% or more of your capital is held of record or is otherwise determined, after consultation between competent authorities of the United States and Korea, to be owned directly or indirectly by one or more persons who are not individual residents of the United States. Also, under Article 16 (Capital Gains) of the Korea-United States income tax treaty, the exemption on capital gains does not apply if (a) you have a permanent establishment in Korea and any shares of common stock in which you hold an interest and which gives rise to capital gains are effectively connected with such permanent establishment, (b) you are an individual and you maintain a fixed base in Korea for an aggregate of 183 days or more during a given taxable year and your ADSs or common shares giving rise to capital gains are effectively connected with such fixed base or (c) you are an individual and you are present in Korea for an aggregate of 183 days or more during a given taxable year.
You should inquire for yourself whether you are entitled to the benefit of a tax treaty between Korea and the country where you are a resident. It is the responsibility of the party claiming the benefits of an income tax treaty in respect of dividend payments or capital gains to submit to us, the purchaser or the financial investment company, as applicable, a certificate as to his tax residence. In the absence of sufficient proof, we, the purchaser or the financial investment company, as applicable, must withhold tax at the normal rates. Furthermore, in order for you to claim the benefit of a tax rate reduction or tax exemption on certain Korean source income (such as dividends or capital gains) under an applicable tax treaty, Korean tax law requires you (or your agent) to submit an application (for reduced withholding tax rate, “application for entitlement to reduced tax rate,” and in the case of exemptions from withholding tax, “application for tax exemption,” along with a certificate of your tax residency issued by a competent authority of your country of tax residence, subject to certain exceptions) as the beneficial owner of such Korean source income (“BO application”). For example, a U.S. resident would be required to provide Form 6166 as a certificate of tax residency together with the application for entitlement to reduced tax rate or the application for tax exemption. Such application should be submitted to the withholding agent prior to the payment date of the relevant income. Subject to certain exceptions, where the relevant income is paid to an overseas investment vehicle (which is not the beneficial owner of such income) (“OIV”), a beneficial owner claiming the benefit of an applicable tax treaty with respect to such income must submit its BO application to such OIV, which must submit an OIV report and a schedule of beneficial owners to the withholding agent prior to the payment date of such income. In the case of a tax exemption application, the withholding agent is required to submit such application (together with the applicable OIV report in the case of income paid to an OIV) to the relevant district tax office by the ninth day of the month following the date of the payment of such income.
Inheritance Tax and Gift Tax
If you die while holding an ADS or donate an ADS, it is unclear whether, for Korean inheritance tax and gift tax purposes, you will be treated as the owner of the common shares underlying the ADSs. If the tax
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authority interprets depositary receipts as the underlying share certificates, you may be treated as the owner of the common shares and your heir or the donee (or in certain circumstances, you as the donor) will be subject to Korean inheritance tax or gift tax presently at the rate of 10% to 50%, provided that the value of the ADSs or the common shares is greater than a specified amount.
If you die while holding a common share or donate a common share, your heir or donee (or in certain circumstances, you as the donor) will be subject to Korean inheritance tax or gift tax at the same rate as indicated above.
At present, Korea has not entered into any tax treaty relating to inheritance tax or gift tax.
Securities Transaction Tax
If you transfer our common shares on the Korea Exchange, you will be subject to securities transaction tax at the rate of 0.15% (which rate will be decreased to 0.1% starting on June 3, 2019 pursuant to an amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the Securities Transaction Tax Act) and an agriculture and fishery special surtax at the rate of 0.15% of the sale price of the common shares. If your transfer of the common shares is not made on the Korea Exchange, subject to certain exceptions, you will be subject to securities transaction tax at the rate of 0.5% and will not be subject to an agriculture and fishery special surtax.
Under the Securities Transaction Tax Law, depositary receipts (such as American depositary receipts) constitute share certificates subject to the securities transaction tax. However, the transfer of depositary receipts listed on the New York Stock Exchange, the Nasdaq Global Market, or other qualified foreign exchanges is exempt from the securities transaction tax.
In principle, the securities transaction tax, if applicable, must be paid by the transferor of the common shares or ADSs. When the transfer is effected through a securities settlement company, such settlement company is generally required to withhold and pay the tax to the tax authorities. When such transfer is made through a financial investment company only, such financial investment company is required to withhold and pay the tax. Where the transfer is effected by a non-resident without a permanent establishment in Korea, other than through a securities settlement company or a financial investment company, the transferee is required to withhold the securities transaction tax.
Non-reporting or under-reporting of securities transaction tax will generally result in penalties equal to 20% to 60% of the non-reported tax amount or 10% to 60% of under-reported tax amount. Also, a failure to timely pay securities transaction tax will result in a penalty equal to 9.125% per annum of the due but unpaid tax amount. The penalties are imposed on the party responsible for paying the securities transaction tax or, if such tax is required to be withheld, on the party that has the obligation to withhold.
Dividends and Paying Agents
Statement by Experts
Documents on Display
We are subject to the information requirements of the Exchange Act, and, in accordance therewith, are required to file reports, including annual reports on Form 20-F, and other information with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. These materials, including this annual report and the exhibits thereto, may be
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inspected and copied at the Commission’s public reference rooms in Washington, D.C., New York, New York and Chicago, Illinois. Please call the Commission at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference rooms. As a foreign private issuer, we are also required to make filings with the Commission by electronic means. Any filings we make electronically will be available to the public over the Internet at the Commission’s web site at http://www.sec.gov.
Subsidiary Information
As a financial services provider, we are exposed to various risks related to our lending and trading businesses, our funding activities and our operating environment, principally through Kookmin Bank, our banking subsidiary. Our goal in risk management is to ensure that we identify, measure, monitor and control the various risks that arise, and that our organization adheres strictly to the policies and procedures which we establish to address these risks. Under our internal regulations pertaining to our consolidated capital adequacy ratio and internal standards for risk appetite and internal capital under Basel III, we identify the following eight separate categories of risk inherent in our business activities: credit risk, market risk, operational risk, interest rate risk, liquidity risk, credit concentration risk, reputation risk and strategic risk. Of these, the principal risks to which we are exposed are credit risk, market risk, liquidity risk and operational risk, and we strive to manage these and other risks within acceptable limits.
Organization
We have a multi-tiered risk management governance structure. Our Risk Management Committee is ultimately responsible for group-wide risk management, and directs our various subordinate risk management entities. The Risk Management Council coordinates the implementation of policies set forth by the Risk Management Committee with the relevant risk management units of our subsidiaries. The Subsidiary Risk Management Committee of each of our subsidiaries, based on the Risk Management Committee’s policies, determines risk management strategies and implements risk management policies and guidelines for such subsidiary and directs the activities of the subsidiary’s risk management units within the risk guidelines set at the group level. Each Subsidiary Risk Management Committee generally receives inputs from the respective risk management units of such subsidiary, which report to the Risk Management Committee.
The following chart sets out our risk management governance structure as of the date of this annual report:
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Our Risk Management Committee is a board-level committee that is responsible for overseeing all risks and advising the board of directors with respect to risk management-related issues. The committee consists of four non-executive directors (one of whom serves as the chairman of the committee), and convenes on a quarterly basis. Its major roles include:
establishing risk management strategies in accordance with the directives of the board of directors;
determining our target risk appetite;
allocating risk capital to each subsidiary and approving our subsidiaries’ risk limits; and
reviewing the level of risks we are exposed to and the appropriateness of our risk management policies, systems and operations.
Risk Management Council
Our Risk Management Council is responsible for coordinating with the risk management units of our subsidiaries to ensure that they implement the policies, guidelines and limits established by the Risk Management Committee. The Risk Management Council is comprised of our chief risk management officer and the chief risk management officers of all of our subsidiaries. It operates independently from all business units and convenes on a quarterly basis. Its responsibilities include:
analyzing our risk status by using information provided by oursubsidiary-level risk management units;
deliberating adjustments to the integrated risk capital allocation plan and risk limits for each of our subsidiaries; and
coordinating issues relating to the group-wide integration of our risk management functions.
Subsidiary Risk Management Committees
Each of our subsidiaries has delegated risk management authority to its Subsidiary Risk Management Committee. Each Subsidiary Risk Management Committee measures and monitors the various risks faced by the relevant subsidiary and reports to that subsidiary’s board of directors regarding decisions that it makes on risk management issues. It also makes certain strategic risk-related decisions regarding the operations of the relevant subsidiary, such as setting total exposure limits, allocating credit risk limits and market risk-related limits and determining which market risk derivatives instruments the subsidiary can trade. The major activities of each Subsidiary Risk Management Committee include:
determining and monitoring risk policies, guidelines, limits and tolerance levels and the level of subsidiary risk in accordance with group policy;
reviewing and analyzing the subsidiary’s risk profile;
setting limits for and adjusting the risk capital allocation plan and risk levels for each business unit within the subsidiary; and
monitoring compliance with our group-wide risk management policies and practices at the business unit and subsidiary level.
Each Subsidiary Risk Management Committee is comprised of the subsidiary’s non-executive directors on its board of directors.
Credit Risk Management
Credit risk is the risk of expected and unexpected losses in the event of borrower or counterparty defaults. Credit risk management aims to improve asset quality and generate stable profits while reducing risk through
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diversified and balanced loan portfolios. We determine the creditworthiness of each type of borrower or counterparty through reviews conducted by our credit experts and through our credit rating systems, and we set a credit limit for each borrower or counterparty.
We assess and manage all credit exposures. We measure expected losses and internal capital on assets (whether on- or off-balance sheet) that are subject to credit risk management and use expected losses and internal capital as management indicators. We manage credit risk by allocating credit risk internal capital limits. In addition, we control credit concentration risk exposure by applying and managing total exposure limits to prevent excessive risk concentration to particular industries or borrowers. Credit exposures that we assess and manage include loans to borrowers and counterparties, investments in securities, letters of credit, bankers’ acceptances, derivatives and commitments. Our risk appetite, which is the ratio of our required internal capital to our estimated available book capital, is approved by the Risk Management Committee once a year. Thereafter, we calculate internal capital every month for all of our subsidiaries and on a holding company level based on attributed internal capital in accordance with the risk appetite as approved by the Risk Management Committee, and measure and report profiles of credit risk on a holding company level and by subsidiary regularly to our senior management, including our Risk Management Committee.
We use expected default rates and recovery rates to determine the expected loss rate of a borrower or counterparty. We use the expected loss rate to make credit related decisions, including pricing, loan approval and establishment of standards to be followed at each level of decision making. These rates are calculated using information gathered from our internal database. With respect to large corporate borrowers, we also use information provided by external credit rating services to calculate default rates and recovery rates.
Our credit risk management processes include:
establishing credit policy;
credit evaluation and approval;
industry assessment;
total exposure management;
collateral evaluation and monitoring;
credit risk assessment;
early warning and credit review; and
post-credit extension monitoring.
Credit Evaluation
Kookmin Bank evaluates the ability of all loan applicants to repay their debts before it approves any loans, except for loans fully guaranteed by letters of guarantee issued by the Credit Guarantee Fund and the Korea Technology Credit Guarantee Fund, for loans fully secured by deposits and for other loans similarly guaranteed or secured. Kookmin Bank assigns each borrower or guarantor a credit rating based on the judgment of its experts or scores calculated using the appropriate credit rating system. Factors that Kookmin Bank considers in assigning credit ratings include both financial factors and non-financial factors, such as its perception of a borrower’s reliability, management and operational risk and risk relating to the borrower’s industry. The credit rating process differs according to the type, size and characteristics of a borrower.
Kookmin Bank uses its internally developed credit rating systems to rate potential borrowers. As the characteristics of each customer segment differ, Kookmin Bank uses several credit rating systems for its customers. The nature of the credit rating system used for a particular borrower depends on whether the borrower is an individual, a “small office/home office” customer, a small- and medium-sized enterprise or a large
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company. For large companies and small- and medium-sized enterprises, Kookmin Bank has 17 credit ratings ranging from AAA to D for risk management purposes. For retail customers, it has 13 credit ratings ranging from grade 1 to grade 13.
Based on the credit rating of a borrower, Kookmin Bank applies different credit policies, which affect factors such as credit limit, loan period, loan pricing, loan classification and provisioning. Kookmin Bank also uses these credit ratings in evaluating itsbank-wide risk management strategy. Factors Kookmin Bank considers in making this evaluation include the profitability of each company or transaction, performance of each business unit and portfolio management. Kookmin Bank monitors the credit status of borrowers and collect information to adjust its ratings appropriately. If Kookmin Bank changes a borrower’s credit rating, it will also change the credit policies relating to that borrower and may also change the policies underlying its loan portfolio.
Retail Loan Approval Process
Mortgage Loans and Secured Retail Loans. Branch staff employees of Kookmin Bank forward loan applications to processing centers and Kookmin Bank’s processing center staff reviews mortgage loans and retail loans secured by real estate or guarantees. However, in the case of loans secured by deposits with Kookmin Bank, its branch staff approves such loans. Kookmin Bank makes lending decisions based on its assessment of the value of the collateral, debt service capability and the borrower’s score generated from its credit scoring systems.
For mortgage loans and loans secured by real estate, Kookmin Bank evaluates the value of the real estate offered as collateral using a database it has developed that contains information about real estate values throughout Korea. Kookmin Bank also uses information from a third party provider about the real estate market in Korea, which gives it up-to-date market value information for Korean real estate. In addition, Kookmin Bank’s processing center staff employees review the value of real estate provided by the evaluation system to ensure there are no significant discrepancies. Kookmin Bank bases decisions regarding the approval of such loans primarily on the results of its credit scoring systems.
For loans secured by deposits, Kookmin Bank will generally grant loans up to 95% of the deposit amount if it holds the deposit.
With respect to mortgage loans and secured retail loans, Kookmin Bank screens customers based on various criteria that indicate whether the customer may have deteriorating credit using internal information and rating information from credit bureaus. Kookmin Bank also evaluates debt service capability for eligible customers pursuant to certain checklist items, such as profession, annual income, credit card overdue information, transaction history (with both it and other financial institutions) and other relevant credit information.
Kookmin Bank generally decides whether to evaluate a loan application within three to five days after recording the relevant information in its credit scoring systems.
Unsecured Retail Loans. Kookmin Bank reviews applications for unsecured retail loans in accordance with its credit scoring systems. These automated systems evaluate loan applications and determine an appropriate pricing for the loan. The major benefits of using a credit scoring system are that it yields uniform results regardless of the user and that it can be used effectively by employees who do not necessarily have extensive experience in credit evaluation. The staff of Kookmin Bank’s processing centers reviews the results of the credit scoring system based on information input by its branch staff and, if approved, issues the loan.
Kookmin Bank’s credit scoring systems take into account factors including borrower’s income, assets, profession, transaction history (with both it and other financial institutions) and other relevant credit information. The systems rank each borrower in an appropriate grade, and that grade is used as a factor in deciding whether to approve loans as well as to determine loan amounts. Kookmin Bank generally bases its decisions on the results of its credit scoring systems to evaluate applications.
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Corporate Loan Approval Process
We approve corporate loans at different levels of our organization depending on the size and type of the loan, the credit risk level assessed by the credit rating system, whether the loan is secured by collateral and, if secured, the value of the collateral. The lowest level of authority is the branch staff employee of Kookmin Bank, who can approve small loans and loans that have the lowest range of credit risk. Larger loans and loans with higher credit risk are approved by higher levels of authority depending on where they fall in a matrix of loan size and credit risk. Depending on the size and terms of any particular loan or the credit risk relating to a particular borrower, more than one entity may review the application, although generally loan applications are reviewed only by the entity having corresponding authority to approve the loan.
Kookmin Bank evaluates all of its corporate borrowers by using credit rating systems, except for applicants whose borrowings are fully secured by deposits or applicants who have obtained third-party guarantees from the government or certain other very highly rated guarantors. See “—Credit Evaluation.”
For owner-operated enterprises (which we refer to as SOHOs) with total outstanding loans of ￦1 billion or less, Kookmin Bank has put in place a retail SOHO credit rating system, which adopts simplified credit evaluation modeling procedures and has the same structure and process as the credit rating system for individual retail borrowers. This system consists of a scoring model and a preliminary examination checklist. The scoring model analyzes information with respect to the customer’s personal information and bank transaction history, as well as information from credit bureaus. The preliminary examination checklist is based on information regarding the customer’s credit delinquencies and history of write-offs. This system classifies customers into 13 possible credit ratings.
For SOHOs with total outstanding loans of more than ￦1 billion, Kookmin Bank has put in place a separate credit rating system known as “SOHO CRS.” For other small- and medium-sized enterprises, Kookmin Bank has put in place a similar credit rating system known as CRS. For large corporations, Kookmin Bank has put in place a similar credit rating system known as LCRS. For financial institutions, certain non-profit organizations and public institutions, Kookmin Bank has put in place a credit rating system known as FNP CRS. The SOHO CRS, the CRS, the LCRS and the FNP CRS models consist of the following three parts:
Financial Model. The financial model uses the borrower’s current status and trend of financial ratios calculated using its financial statements. The financial model classifies potential borrowers into one of three size categories and one of five types of industry. This model incorporates logistic regression and statistical methods, which use financial ratios such as stability ratio, cash flow ratio, profitability ratio and turnover ratio to make credit determinations.
Non-financial Model. Thenon-financial model uses various qualitative and quantitative factors, such as future repayment capability, market prospects, management capability and business capability, to evaluate borrowers. The factors that are evaluated and the weighting given to each factor vary by type of industry and size of company.
Default Signal Check Model. The default signal check model checks factors that have low frequency of occurrence but are highly likely to lead to a default in the event of an occurrence. The results of the default signal check model may be used to cap a borrower’s credit grade.
In addition to the three parts outlined above, the SOHO CRS also includes a “CEO Evaluation Model,” which analyzes information with respect to personal information and bank transaction history of the individual owner of such SOHO.
We often refer to corporate information gathered or ratings assigned by external credit rating agencies, such as Korea Information Service, National Information & Credit Evaluation Inc. and Korea Management Consulting & Credit Rating Corporation, in order to improve the accuracy of our credit ratings.
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Credit Card Approval Process
We make decisions on all credit card approvals based on the Financial Supervisory Service standard of review for payment ability (such as the occupation and income of the applicant), as well as a combination of KB Kookmin Card’s internal application scoring system and a credit scoring system developed by independent credit bureaus.
KB Kookmin Card’s application scoring system reflects various credit information, including basic customer information (such as credit history), transaction history with it, if any, delinquency and transaction history with other card companies and financial institutions and credit information provided by the Korea Federation of Banks and other credit bureaus. KB Kookmin Card also considers repayment ability, total assets, total outstanding debts and the length of the applicant’s relationship, if any, and past contribution to our profitability, if any.
The credit scoring system developed by credit bureaus, reflects various sources of information regarding the credit risk of customers, including delinquency and transaction history with other credit card companies and financial institutions.
On the basis of the standard of review for payment ability and the combination of the scores from our application scoring system and the credit scoring system developed by independent credit bureaus, KB Kookmin Card establishes, among other things, the term of any new approvals, initial limits and differentiation of fee rates with respect to its credit cards. KB Kookmin Card’s systems allow it to differentiate applicants into groups that receive immediate credit card approval or rejection, or that may require it to further investigate that applicant’s credit qualifications. The initial limits of new applicants are based on their estimated disposable income, which is based on their occupation and the value of their personal assets. KB Kookmin Card applies its fee rates to applicants differently according to risk premium and profitability.
Total Exposure Management
We establish and manage total exposure limits for corporations, chaebols and industries, as well as certain small- and medium-sized enterprises, in order to optimize the use of credit availability and avoid excessive risk concentration. Kookmin Bank establishes total exposure limits for (i) main debtor groups designated by the Financial Supervisory Service, (ii) groups to which Kookmin Bank has total exposure of ￦50 billion or more, (iii) enterprises that belong to a main debtor group or large enterprises, in both cases to which Kookmin Bank has total exposure of ￦30 billion or more, (iv) small- and medium-sized enterprises to which Kookmin Bank has total exposure of ￦20 billion or more and (v) other groups or individual enterprises designated by the head of Kookmin Bank’s Risk Management Council as necessary. Kookmin Bank establishes total exposure limit by reviewing factors such as industry, size, cash flows, financial ratios and credit ratings, while establishing exposure limits for industries by reviewing the sales growth rate and risk concentration for each industry. These total exposure limits are set following approval by Kookmin Bank’s Risk Management Council after review by the Credit Risk Management Subcommittee.
Kookmin Bank’s maximum exposure limit is within 25% of its Tier I and Tier II capital for a single chaebol, and within 10% of its Tier I and Tier II capital for an individual large corporation.
We manage and control exposure limits on a daily basis. The principal system that we use for this purpose is the Total Exposure Management System. This system allows us to monitor and control our total exposure to large corporations, chaebols and industries. Kookmin Bank monitors its exposure to large corporations to which it has an exposure of ￦30 billion or more, individual corporations to which it has an exposure of ￦20 billion or more, and also its exposure to 128 business groups, which comprise the 31 largest highly-indebted business groups among chaebols in Korea designated as such by the Financial Supervisory Service based on their outstanding exposures as well as 97 business groups to which it has exposures (in the form of securities or loans)
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of ￦50 billion or more. We also monitor our exposure to industries by peer groups. Our Total Exposure Management System integrates all of ourcredit-related risk including credit extended by our overseas branches and affiliates. The assets subject to the system include all Won-denominated and foreign currency-denominated loans, all assets in trust accounts except specified money trusts, guarantees, trade-related credits, commercial paper, corporate bonds and other securities and derivatives.
Collateral Evaluation and Monitoring System
Kookmin Bank uses the Collateral Evaluation and Monitoring System to manage the liquidation value of collateral it holds. The Collateral Evaluation and Monitoring System is a computerized collateral management system that can be accessed from Kookmin Bank’s headquarters and its branches. Using this system, Kookmin Bank can more accurately assess the actual liquidation value of collateral, determine the recovery rate on its loans and use this information in setting its credit risk management and loan policies. Kookmin Bank can monitor the value of all the collateral a borrower provides and the value of that collateral based on its liquidation value. When appraising the value of real estate collateral, which makes up the largest part of Kookmin Bank’s collateral, Kookmin Bank consults a regularly updated database provided by a third party that tracks the prices at which various types of real estate in various regions of Korea are sold. Kookmin Bank appraises the value of collateral when it makes a loan, when the loan is due for renewal and when events occur that may change the value of the collateral.
Credit Risk Management and Monitoring
Kookmin Bank’s Credit Risk Department manages and regulates our loan portfolio policies. It also analyzes and monitors our loan portfolios and monitors our compliance with the applicable limits for credit risk. Moreover, it separately manages high-risk products, such as real estate project financing loans and over-the-counter derivative products, by setting appropriate limits.
Credit Review
Kookmin Bank’s credit review function is independent of the business groups which manage our assets. Its Credit Review Department:
reviews internal credit regulations, policies and systems;
analyzes the credit status of selected loan assets and verifies the appropriateness of the credit evaluations/approvals made by branches and headquarters; and
evaluates the corporate credit risk of potentially insolvent companies.
More specifically, Kookmin Bank’s Credit Review Department continuously reviews the financial condition of selected borrowers with respect to their current debt, collateral, business, transactions with related parties and debt service capability. Based on such review, Kookmin Bank may adjust the borrower’s credit rating, lending policy or asset quality classification of the loan provided to the borrower, depending on the applicable circumstances. Kookmin Bank also regularly reviews other aspects of the lending process, including industries and regions in which its borrowers operate and the quality of its domestic and overseas assets. Kookmin Bank’s industry reviews focus on growth, stability, competition and ability to adapt to a changing environment. Based on the results of a particular industry review, Kookmin Bank may revise the total exposure limit assigned to that industry and lending policy for each company within that industry. When a review takes place, Kookmin Bank may adjust not only credit ratings of its borrowers based on a variety of factors, but also asset quality classification, credit limits and applied interest rates or its credit policies. Credit review results are reported to Kookmin Bank’s chief risk management officer and its Risk Management Committee on a quarterly basis.
Kookmin Bank’s Credit Review Department also conducts on-site reviews of selected branches that are experiencing increasing delinquency ratios and bad debts. During these visits Kookmin Bank examines the loan processes and recommends improvement plans and appropriate follow-up measures.
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Also, based on guidelines provided by the Financial Supervisory Service to all Korean banks, Kookmin Bank operates a corporate credit risk assessment program to facilitate the identification of weak companies and possible commencement of corporate restructuring. Through this program, Kookmin Bank, together with other banks, is able to detect symptoms of financially troubled companies at an early stage, assess related credit risk and support the normalization of companies that are likely to turnaround through a workout process, or seek to liquidate those companies that are not likely to recover.
Kookmin Bank’s Credit Review Department also analyzes issues related to credit risk and provides information necessary for the formulation of effective credit policies and strategies and for effective credit risk management.
Market Risk Management
The major risk to which we are exposed is interest rate risk on debt instruments and interest bearing securities and, to a lesser extent, stock price risk and foreign exchange risk. The financial instruments that expose us to these risks are securities and financial derivatives. We are also exposed to interest rate risk and liquidity risk in Kookmin Bank’s banking book. We divide market risk into risks arising from trading activities and risks arising from non-trading activities.
Kookmin Bank’s Risk Management Council establishes overall market risk management principles. It has delegated the responsibility for the market risk management for trading activities to the Market Risk Management Subcommittee of Kookmin Bank, which is chaired by Kookmin Bank’s chief risk management officer. This subcommittee meets on a regular basis each month and as required to respond to developments in the market and the economy. Based on the policies approved by Kookmin Bank’s Risk Management Council, the Market Risk Management Subcommittee reviews and approves reports as required that include trading profits and losses, position reports, limit utilization, sensitivity analysis and VaR results for our trading activities.
Kookmin Bank’s Risk Management Council is responsible for interest rate and liquidity risk management for its non-trading activities. The council meets on a regular basis and as required to respond to developments in the market and the economy. Members of the Risk Management Council, acting through Kookmin Bank’s Risk Management Department, review Kookmin Bank’s interest rate and liquidity gap position monthly, as well as the business profile and its impact on asset and liability management.
To ensure adequate interest rate and liquidity risk management, we have assigned the responsibilities for our asset and liability risk management to Kookmin Bank’s Risk Management Department in Kookmin Bank’s Risk Management Group, which monitors and reviews the asset and liability operating procedures and activities of Kookmin Bank’s Financial Planning Department and Asset and Liability Risk Management Department, and independently reports to the management on the related issues.
Market Risk Management for Trading Activities
Our trading activities consist of:
trading activities for our own account to realize short-term trading profits in Won-denominated debt and equities markets and foreign exchange markets based on our short-term forecast of changes in the market situation; and
trading activities involving derivatives, such as swaps, forwards, futures and option transactions, to realize profits primarily from selling derivative products to our customers and to hedge market risk incurred from those activities. In addition, certain derivative products that we use to hedge our own market risk are classified as trading activities as they do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment under IFRS. We believe, however, that certain of these products are effective as economic hedges.
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We use derivative instruments to hedge our market risk and, to a limited extent, to make profits by trading derivative products within acceptable risk limits. The principal objective of our hedging strategy is to manage our market risk within established limits. We use the following hedging instruments to manage relevant risks:
to hedge interest rate risk arising from its trading activities, the Trading/Capital Markets Department of Kookmin Bank occasionally uses interest rate futures (Korea Treasury Bond Futures) and interest rate swaps;
to hedge stock price risk arising from its trading activities, the Trading/Capital Markets Department of Kookmin Bank selectively uses stock index futures;
to hedge interest rate risk and foreign exchange risk arising from our foreigncurrency-denominated asset and liability positions as well as our trading activities, the Treasury Unit within the Capital Markets Department of Kookmin Bank uses interest rate swaps, cross-currency interest rate swaps, foreign exchange forwards and futures, Euro-dollar futures and currency options; and
to change the interest rate characteristics of certain assets and liabilities after the original investment or funding, we use swaps. For example, depending on the market situation, we may choose to obtain fixed rate funding instead of floating rate funding if we believe that the terms are more favorable, which we can achieve by entering into interest rate swaps.
We generally manage our market risk at the portfolio level. To control our exposure to market risk, we use internal capital limits set by Kookmin Bank’s Risk Management Committee for Kookmin Bank and at the group level within Kookmin Bank, VaR, position and stop loss limits set by Kookmin Bank’s Risk Management Council for Kookmin Bank and at the group level within Kookmin Bank, and VaR, position, stop loss and sensitivity limits (PVBP, Delta, Gamma, Vega) set by Kookmin Bank’s Market Risk Management Subcommittee at the department level within Kookmin Bank. We prepared our risk control and management guidelines for derivative trading based on the regulations and guidelines promulgated by the Financial Supervisory Service.
In addition, we have implemented internal processes which include a number of key controls designed to ensure that fair value is measured appropriately, particularly where a fair value model is internally developed and used to price a significant product. See “Item 5.A. Operating Results—Critical Accounting Policies—Valuation of Financial Instruments” and Notes 4.4 and 6 of the notes to our consolidated financial statements. For example, each year, Kookmin Bank’s Risk Management Department reviews the existing pricing and valuation models, with a focus on their underlying modeling assumptions and restrictions, to assess the appropriateness of their continued use. In consultation with Kookmin Bank’s Trading Department, the Risk Management Department recommends potential valuation models to Kookmin Bank’s Fair Value Evaluation Committee. Upon approval by Kookmin Bank’s Fair Value Evaluation Committee, the selected valuation models are reported to its Market Risk Management Subcommittee.
We monitor market risk arising from trading activities of our business groups and departments. The market risk measurement model we use for both our Won-denominated trading operations and foreign currency-denominated trading operations is implemented through our integrated market risk management system called Adaptiv, which enables us to generate consistent VaR numbers for all trading activities.
Value at Risk analysis. We use VaR to measure market risk. VaR is a statistically estimated maximum amount of loss that could occur over a given period of time at a given level of confidence. VaR is a commonly used market risk management technique. However, this approach does have some shortcomings. VaR estimates possible losses over a certain period at a particular confidence level using past market movement data. Past market movement, however, is not necessarily a good indicator of future events, as there may be conditions and circumstances in the future that the model does not anticipate. As a result, the timing and magnitude of the actual losses can be different depending on the assumptions made at the time of calculation. In addition, the time periods used for the model, generally one or ten days, are assumed to be a sufficient holding period before liquidating the relevant underlying positions. If these holding periods are not sufficient, or too long, the VaR
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results may understate or overstate the potential loss. Different VaR methodologies and distributional assumptions could produce a materially different VaR. VaR is most appropriate as a risk measure for trading positions in liquid capital markets and will understate the risk associated with severe events, such as a period of extreme illiquidity.
We use a 99% single tail confidence level to measure VaR, which means the actual amount of loss may exceed the VaR, on average, once out of 100 business days. Until 2011, we used the “variance-covariance method” or parametric VaR (“PVaR”) methodology to measure our daily VaR, which took into account the diversification effects among different risk categories as well as within the same risk category. In 2012, we received authorization from the Financial Services Commission to use a historical simulation VaR (“HSVaR”) methodology, which we believe to be more accurate and responsive in reflecting market volatilities, to measure market risk. Our ten-day HSVaR method, which is computed using a full valuation and is computationally intensive, uses an archive of historic price data and the VaR for a portfolio is estimated by creating a hypothetical time series of returns on that portfolio, obtained by running the portfolio through actual ten-day historical data and computing the changes that would have occurred in each ten-day period.
The following table shows the volume and types of positions held by Kookmin Bank for which the VaR method is used to measure market risk as of December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018.
Securities—Bond(1)
Securities—Equity(1)
Spot exchanges(2)
Derivatives(3)
Represents amounts marked to market and as shown on the balance sheet information that is prepared and submitted to the Financial Supervisory Service for risk management purposes.
Represents the overall net open currency position in each currency, which is the greater of (i) the sum of the absolute value of all short positions and (ii) the sum of the absolute value of all long positions.
For over-the-counterderivatives, represents the absolute value of over-the-counter derivatives measured at fair value at year end. Forexchange-traded derivatives, includes the amount of deposits and the collateral posted for such derivatives.
The following table shows Kookmin Bank’s ten-day HSVaRs (at a 99% confidence level for a ten-day holding period) as of December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018 for interest risk, stock price risk and foreign exchange risk relating to its trading activities. The following figures were calculated on a consolidated basis.
Risk categories:
Interest risk
Stock price risk
Foreign exchange risk
Less: diversification
Diversified VaR for overall trading activities
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In 2018, the average, high, low and ending amounts often-day HSVaR (at a 99% confidence level for a ten-day holding period) for Kookmin Bank relating to its trading activities were as follows.
In 2017, the average, high, low and ending amounts of ten-day HSVaR (at a 99% confidence level for a ten-day holding period) for Kookmin Bank relating to its trading activities were as follows.
In 2016, the average, high, low and ending amounts of ten-day HSVaR (at a 99% confidence level for a ten-day holding period) for Kookmin Bank relating to its trading activities were as follows.
Standardized Method. Market risk for positions not measured by VaR are measured using the standardized method for measuring market risk-based required equity capital specified by the Financial Supervisory Service, which takes into account certain risk factors. Under the standardized method, the required equity capital is measured using the risk-weighted values for each risk factor. The method used to measure the market risk-based required equity capital for each risk factor is as follows:
Interest rate risk:
General market risk: General market risk relates to the risk of losses from macroscopic events which could have an impact on interest rates, stock prices, exchange rates, and market prices of general commodities. General market interest rate risk of a debt security is calculated on its net position, taking into consideration the remaining maturity and coupon rate.
Specific risk: Specific risk relates to the risk of loss from changes in credit risk of issuers of debt securities or equities, excluding changes in general market prices. Specific interest rate risk of a
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debt security is measured by multiplying the interest rate position appraised based on the market price of such security by the risk-weighted value applicable to the type of debt security, credit rating and the remaining maturity.
Equity risk: General and specific equity risk are calculated by multiplying the bought or sold position by the relevant risk-weighted values.
Foreign exchange risk: Foreign exchange risk is measured by multiplying the larger of the absolute values among the net bought or sold positions of each currency by the relevant risk-weighted values.
Option risk: Option risk is measured using the delta, gamma and vega of the option.
The standardized method is used to measure the market risk of the positions for which the Financial Supervisory Service has not approved the use of the VaR method. In addition, we use the standardized method for positions which are held by certain subsidiaries or for which measuring VaR is difficult due to the lack of daily position data. See Note 4.4.3 of the notes to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this annual report.
The following table shows the volume and types of instruments held by Kookmin Bank for which the standardized method is used to measure its required equity capital as of December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018.
Swaps and foreign exchange positions(1)
Derivative-linked securities(2)
Options embedded in convertible bonds(3)
The overall net open currency position is the greater of (i) the sum of the absolute value of all short positions and (ii) the sum of the absolute value of all long positions. In the first half of 2015, Kookmin Bank received approval from the Financial Supervisory Service to use its internal VaR model, in lieu of the standardized method, to measure the market risk of positions held by Kookmin Bank (China) Ltd. As of December 31, 2015, Kookmin Bank held no currency rate swaps and foreign exchange positions that required the use of the standardized method to measure Kookmin Bank’s required equity capital. Amounts as of December 31, 2016 represent only the value of interest rate swaps held by a special purpose vehicle of Kookmin Bank, for which the standardized method is used to measure Kookmin Bank’s required equity capital. Amounts as of December 31, 2017 and 2018 represent the value of interest rate swaps held by a special purpose vehicle of Kookmin Bank and the foreign exchange positions held by KB Microfinance Myanmar Co., Ltd., for which the standardized method is used to measure Kookmin Bank’s required equity capital.
Amounts as of December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018 represent the value of derivative-linked securities held by the trust accounts of Kookmin Bank subject to consolidation, for which the standardized method is used to measure Kookmin Bank’s required equity capital.
Represents the absolute value ofover-the-counter derivatives measured at fair value at year end for monitoring purposes.
The following table shows Kookmin Bank’s required equity capital measured using the standardized method as of December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018.
In the first half of 2015, Kookmin Bank received approval from the Financial Supervisory Service to use its internal VaR model, in lieu of the standardized method, to measure the market risk of certain instruments held by Kookmin Bank, including 30-year government bonds held by Kookmin Bank, as well as positions held by certain subsidiaries of Kookmin Bank, including Kookmin Bank (China) Ltd.
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Back-Testing. We conduct back testing on a daily basis to validate the adequacy of our market risk model. In back testing, we compare both the actual and hypothetical profit and loss with the VaR calculations and analyze any results that fall outside our predetermined confidence interval of 99%. The number of times the actual changes in fair values, earnings or cash flows from the market risk sensitive instruments exceeded the VaR amounts in 2016, 2017 and 2018 was 4, 0 and 2, respectively.
Stress testing. In addition to VaR, which assumes normal market situations, we use stress testing to assess our market risk exposure to abnormal market fluctuations. Abnormal market fluctuations include significant declines in the stock market and significant increases in the general level of interest rates. This is an important way to supplement VaR, as VaR is a statistical expression of possible loss under a given confidence level and holding period. It does not cover potential loss if the market moves in a manner that is outside our normal expectations. Stress testing projects the anticipated change in value of holding positions under certain scenarios assuming that no action is taken during a stress event to change the risk profile of a portfolio. According to Kookmin Bank’s stress testing, we estimate that as of December 31, 2018, Kookmin Bank’s trading portfolio could have lost ￦446 billion for an assumed short-term extreme decline of approximately 25% in the equity market and an approximate 54 basis point increase in the Korean treasury bond rates under an abnormal stress environment.
We monitor the impact of market turmoil or any abnormality by conducting stress tests and confirming that the results are within our market risk limits. If the impact is large, Kookmin Bank’s chief risk management officer may request that our portfolio be restructured or other appropriate action be taken.
Interest Risk
Interest risk from trading activities arises mainly from our trading of Won-denominated debt securities. Our trading strategy is to benefit from short-term movements in the prices of debt securities arising from changes in interest rates. As our trading accounts are marked-to-market daily, we manage the interest risk related to our trading accounts using market value-based tools such as VaR and sensitivity analysis. As of December 31, 2018, the VaR of Kookmin Bank’s interest risk from trading was ￦7.1 billion and the weighted average duration, or weighted average maturity, of its Won-denominated debt securities at fair value through profit or loss was approximately 1.8 years.
Foreign Exchange Risk
Foreign exchange risk arises because we have assets and liabilities that are denominated in currencies other than Won, as well as off-balance sheet items such as foreign exchange forwards and currency swaps. Our assets and liabilities denominated in U.S. dollars, Japanese Yen, Euro and Chinese Renminbi have typically accounted for the majority of our foreign currency assets and liabilities.
The difference between our foreign currency assets and liabilities is offset against forward foreign exchange positions, currency options and currency swaps to obtain our net foreign currency open position. Kookmin Bank’s Risk Management Council and Market Risk Management Subcommittee oversee Kookmin Bank’s foreign exchange exposure for both trading and non-trading purposes by establishing a limit for this net foreign currency open position, together with stop loss limits. VaR limits are established on a combined basis for our domestic operations and foreign branches.
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The following table shows Kookmin Bank’snon-consolidated net open positions at the end of 2016, 2017 and 2018. Positive amounts represent long positions and negative amounts represent short positions. The net open positions held by subsidiaries other than Kookmin Bank are not significant.
Currency:
U.S. dollars
Japanese Yen
Euro
Kazakhstan Tenge
Chinese Renminbi
Amounts prepared on a non-consolidated basis.
Equity Price Risk
Equity price risk results from our equity derivatives trading portfolio in Won since we do not have any trading exposure to shares denominated in foreign currencies other than foreign equity index futures.
The equity derivatives trading portfolio in Won consists of exchange-traded stocks and equity derivatives under strict limits on diversification as well as position limits and stop loss limits.
Kookmin Bank’s Risk Management Council and Market Risk Management Subcommittee set annual and monthly stop loss limits that are monitored by Kookmin Bank’s Risk Management Department. In order to ensure timely action, the stop loss limit of individual securities is monitored by the relevant middle office.
As of December 31, 2018, Kookmin Bank’s equity trading position was ￦43 billion.
Derivative Market Risk
Our derivative trading includes interest rate and cross-currency swaps, foreign exchange forwards, stock index and interest rate futures and currency options. These activities consist primarily of the following:
sales of tailor-made derivative products that meet various needs of our corporate customers and related transactions to reduce our exposure resulting from those sales;
taking positions in limited cases when we expect short-swing profits based on our market forecasts; and
trading to hedge our interest rate and foreign currency risk exposure as described above.
Market risk from trading derivatives is not significant since our derivative trading activities are primarily driven by customer deals with very limited open trading positions.
Market Risk Management for Non-Trading Activities
Interest Rate Risk
Our principal market risk from non-trading activities is interest rate risk. Interest rate risk arises due to mismatches in the maturities or re-pricing periods of these rate-sensitive assets and liabilities. We measure interest rate risk for Won and foreign currency assets and liabilities in our bank accounts (including derivatives)
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and our principal guaranteed trust accounts. Most of our interest earning assets and interest bearing liabilities are denominated in Won and our foreigncurrency-denominated assets and liabilities are mostly denominated in U.S. dollars.
Our principal interest rate risk management objectives are to generate stable net interest revenues and to protect our asset value against interest rate fluctuations. We principally manage this risk for our non-tradingactivities by analyzing and managing maturity and duration gaps between our interest earning assets and interest bearing liabilities. In addition, we use hedging instruments for interest rate risk management for ournon-trading assets and liabilities.
Interest rate gap analysis measures expected changes in net interest revenues by calculating the difference in the amounts of interest earning assets and interest bearing liabilities at each maturity and interest resetting date. We perform interest rate gap analysis forWon-denominated and foreign currency-denominated assets and trust assets on a monthly basis or more frequently when deemed necessary.
Interest Rate Gap Analysis. We perform interest rate gap analysis based on interest rate repricing maturities of assets and liabilities. However, for some of our assets and liabilities with either no maturities or unique characteristics, we use or assume certain maturities, including the following examples:
With respect to asset maturities, we assume remaining maturities of primerate-linked loans with remaining maturities of over one year to be one year and use the actual maturities for prime rate-linked loans with remaining maturities of less than one year.
With respect to liability maturities, we use last 36 months’ average balance to segregate “non-core” and “core” demand deposits. We assume “non-core” demand deposits to have remaining maturities of one month or less, and we assume “core” demand deposits to have remaining maturities between one month and five years.
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The following table shows Kookmin Bank’s interest rate gap for Won-denominated accounts and foreign currency-denominated accounts as of December 31, 2018.
Won-denominated Interest earning assets:
Securities
Interest bearing liabilities:
Borrowings
Sensitivity gap
Cumulative gap
% of total assets
Foreign currency-denominated Interest earning assets:
Due from banks
Duration Gap Analysis. We also perform duration gap analysis to measure and manage interest rate risk. Duration gap analysis is a more long-term risk indicator than interest rate gap analysis, as interest rate gap analysis focuses more on accounting income as opposed to the market value of the assets and liabilities. We emphasize duration gap analysis because, in the long run, our principal concern with respect to interest rate fluctuations is the net asset value rather than net interest revenue changes. In 2018, ourWon-denominated asset and liability duration gap moved between (-)0.034 years and (+)0.041 years. Accordingly, our net asset value would have declined (or increased) between ￦98 billion and ￦124 billion if interest rates had decreased (or increased) by one percentage point.
For duration gap analysis we use or assume the same maturities for different assets and liabilities that we use or assume for our interest rate gap analysis.
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The following table shows Kookmin Bank’s duration gaps and net asset value changes when interest rates decrease by one percentage point as of the specified dates, on a non-consolidated basis.
June 30, 2018
December 31, 2018
We set interest rate risk limits using historical interest rate volatility of financial bonds and duration gaps with respect to expected asset and liability positions based on our annual business plans. The Risk Management Department in Kookmin Bank’s Risk Management Group submits interest rate gap analysis reports, duration gap analysis reports and interest rate risk limit compliance reports monthly to Kookmin Bank’s Risk Management Council and quarterly to Kookmin Bank’s Risk Management Committee.
The following table summarizes Kookmin Bank’s interest rate risk, taking into account asset and liability durations as of December 31, 2018.
Won-denominated:
Asset position
Liability position
Gap
Average maturity
Interest rate volatility
Amount at risk
Foreign currency-denominated:
Interest Rate VaR Analysis. Interest rate VaR is the estimated maximum possible loss on net non-trading assets due to unfavorable changes in interest rates. We calculate interest rate VaR based on interest earning assets and interest bearing liabilities, excluding trading positions, at a 99.9% confidence level. Our method of calculating the interest rate impact is a historical simulation method which uses actual historical price, volatility and yield changes in comparison with the current position to generate hypothetical portfolios and calculate a distribution of position and portfolio market value changes. We believe that our interest rate VaR methodology allows us to benefit from more sophisticated risk measurements using practical scenarios. Using the historical simulation method, Kookmin Bank’s interest rate VaR was ￦76 billion as of December 31, 2016, ￦350 billion
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as of December 31, 2017 and ￦167 billion as of December 31, 2018. See Note 4.4.3 of the notes to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this annual report.
We manage foreign exchange rate risk arising from our non-trading operations together with such risks arising from our trading operations. See “—Market Risk Management for Trading Activities—Foreign Exchange Risk” above.
Liquidity Risk Management
Liquidity risk is the risk of insolvency or loss due to a disparity between the inflow and outflow of funds resulting from, for example, maturity mismatches, obtaining funds at a high price or disposing of securities at an unfavorable price due to lack of available funds. We manage our liquidity in order to meet our financial liabilities from withdrawals of deposits, redemption of matured debentures and repayments at maturity of borrowed funds. We also require sufficient liquidity to fund loans, to extend other credits and to invest in securities. Our liquidity management goal is to meet all our liability repayments on time and fund all investment opportunities even under adverse conditions. To date, we have not experienced significant liquidity risk.
We maintain liquidity by holding sufficient quantities of assets that can be liquidated to meet actual or potential demands for funds from depositors and others. We also manage liquidity by ensuring that the excess of maturing liabilities over maturing assets in any period is kept to manageable levels relative to the amount of funds we believe we could raise by issuing securities. We seek to minimize our liquidity costs by managing our liquidity position on a daily basis and by limiting the amount of cash at any time that is not invested in interest earning assets or securities.
We maintain diverse sources of liquidity to facilitate flexibility in meeting our funding requirements. We fund our operations principally by accepting deposits from retail and corporate depositors, accessing the call loan market (a short-term market for loans with maturities of less than 90 days), issuing debentures and borrowing from the Bank of Korea. We use the majority of funds we raise to extend loans or purchase securities. Generally, deposits are of shorter average maturity than loans or investments.
For Won-denominated assets and liabilities, we manage liquidity using a cash flow structure based on holding short-term liabilities and long-term assets. Generally, the average initial contract maturity of our new Won-denominatedtime deposits was less than one year, while during the same period most of our new loans and securities had maturities over one year.
We manage liquidity risk within the limits set on Won and foreign currency accounts in accordance with the regulations of the Financial Services Commission. The Financial Services Commission requires Korean banks, including Kookmin Bank, to maintain a liquidity coverage ratio of not less than 100% from January 1, 2019 (compared to not less than 95% from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018). The Financial Services Commission defines the liquidity coverage ratio as the ratio of highly liquid assets to total net cash outflows over a 30-day period. The highly liquid assets and total net cash outflows included in the calculation of the liquid coverage ratio are determined in accordance with the “Standards for Calculation of Liquidity Coverage Ratio” under the Detailed Regulation on the Supervision of the Banking Business. In addition, the Financial Services Commission requires Korean banks, including Kookmin Bank, to maintain a foreign currency liquidity coverage ratio of not less than 80% from January 1, 2019 (compared to not less than 70% from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018).
Kookmin Bank’s Asset Liability Management Department is responsible for daily liquidity management with respect to its Won and foreign currency exposure. It reports monthly plans for funding and operations to the Asset Liability Management Committee of Kookmin Bank, which discusses factors such as interest rate movements and maturity structures of its deposits, loans and securities and establishes strategies with respect to deposit and lending rates.
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The following table shows Kookmin Bank’s liquidity coverage ratio and foreign currency liquidity coverage ratio on an average balance basis for the month of December 2018 in accordance with Financial Services Commission regulations:
Liquidity coverage ratio:
Highly liquid assets (A)
Cash outflows (B)
Cash inflows (C)
Total net cash outflows (D = B-C)
Liquidity coverage ratio (A/D)
Minimum limit
Foreign currency liquidity coverage ratio:
The Risk Management Department in Kookmin Bank’s Risk Management Group reports whether it is complying with these limits monthly to Kookmin Bank’s Risk Management Council and quarterly to Kookmin Bank’s Risk Management Committee.
Operational Risk Management
Overall Status
There is no complete consensus on the definition of operational risk in the banking industry. We define operational risk broadly to include all financial and non-financial risks, other than credit risk, market risk, interest rate risk and liquidity risk, that may arise from our operations that could negatively impact our capital, including the risk of loss resulting from inadequate or failed internal processes, people and systems or from external events as defined under Basel II. Our operational risk management objectives include not only satisfying regulatory requirements, but also providing internal support through the growth of a strong risk management culture, reinforcement of internal controls, improvement of work processes and provision of timely feedback to management members and staff throughout the group.
Each of our subsidiaries manages operational risks related to its own business, and we regularly monitor them. Kookmin Bank, our banking subsidiary, uses an operational risk management framework meeting the Basel II Advanced Measurement Approach, or AMA, under which Kookmin Bank:
calculates its operational risk VaR on a quarterly basis using the “loss distribution approach VaR” and “scenario based VaR” methodology;
monitors operational risk in terms of Key Risk Indicators, or KRIs, using tolerance levels for each indicator;
executes integrated compliance and operational risk Control Self Assessments, or CSAs, that enhance the effect on internal controls, which Kookmin Bank employees are able to access and use for process improvement;
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collects and analyzes internal and external loss data;
conducts scenario analyses to evaluate exposure to high-severity events;
manages certain insurance-related activities relating to insurance strategies established to mitigate operational risk;
examines operational risks arising in connection with the development of, changes in or discontinuance of products, policies or systems;
uses a detailed business continuity plan covering all of its operations and locations to prepare against unexpected events, including an alternate back-up site for use in disaster events as well as annual full-scale testing of such site;
refines bank-wide operational risk policies and procedures;
provides appropriate training and support to business line operational risk managers; and
reports overall operational risk status to our senior management.
While Kookmin Bank’s Risk Management Department advises relevant business units with respect to the review of and suggested improvements on related operational processes and procedures, each of Kookmin Bank’s relevant business units has primary responsibility for the management of its own operational risk. In addition, the Operational Risk Unit, which is part of Kookmin Bank’s Risk Management Department, monitors bank-wide operational risk. Kookmin Bank also has business line operational risk managers in all of its subsidiaries, departments and branches who periodically conduct CSAs and monitor KRIs. For example, Kookmin Bank has developed KRIs relating to customer data protection, which are applied and monitored at all domestic branches and offices. In addition, in order to strengthen risk management of its overseas operations, Kookmin Bank designates expert auditors for overseas branches and conducts internal audits designed especially to check key risks identified for each overseas branch. Kookmin Bank has also established a risk CSA system for overseas branches, pursuant to which all employees (including locally hired staff) of such branches are required to perform a risk CSA on a quarterly basis. Furthermore, Kookmin Bank regularly monitors operational risks related to new businesses as well as existing operating processes and seeks to develop appropriate new KRIs and risk CSA measures on an ongoing basis. Through such methods, Kookmin Bank is able to ensure proper monitoring and measurement of operational risk in each of its business groups and overseas operations.
Internal Control
To monitor and control operational risks, we maintain a system of comprehensive policies and have put in place a control framework designed to provide a stable and well-managed operational environment throughout our organization. We have in place regular staff rotation and a mandatory leave policy for employees in certain high-risk categories to safeguard against fraud and to check for weaknesses in internal controls. In addition, we maintain an external whistleblower “ombudsman” channel to encourage whistleblowing and voluntary reporting of fraudulent behavior.
Each of our subsidiaries establishes its own internal control system in accordance with thegroup-level internal control principles. Our Compliance Supporting Department is responsible for monitoring and advising our subsidiaries regarding their internal control systems. Our Audit Committee, which consists of four non-executive directors, is an independent authority that evaluates the effectiveness and efficiency of our group-wide internal control systems and business processes and monitors our subsidiaries’ compliance with such systems and processes, as well as reviews the reliability of our financial statements to secure the transparency and stability of our management (including through the activities of our independent auditors). In particular, we have established group-wide internal guidelines with respect to our subsidiaries’ reporting requirements. Our subsidiaries review their operations and their level of compliance with internal control systems and business processes on a periodic basis and, as part of this process, they are required to report any problems discovered and
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any remedial actions taken to our chief compliance officer, who is responsible for reporting to our Audit Committee. Based on the results of these reports, or on an ad hoc basis in response to any problem or potential problem that it identifies, the Audit Committee may direct a subsidiary to conduct an audit of its operations or, if it chooses to do so, conduct its own audit of those operations. The Audit Committee interacts on a regular basis with our Audit Department, Compliance Supporting Department and our independent auditors. In carrying out these duties, the Audit Committee ultimately protects our property for the benefit of our shareholders, investors and customers by independently monitoring our management.
Our Audit Department supports our Audit Committee in monitoring our accounting and business operations and overseeing the management of our subsidiaries’ internal control systems by performing the following activities:
general audits, which include full-scale audits of the overall operations performed according to an annual audit plan, and sectional audits of selected operations; and
special audits of troubled or weak operations, which are performed when our Audit Committee or executive officer responsible for audits deems it necessary or pursuant to requests by our board, executive officers or supervisory authorities, such as the Financial Supervisory Service.
The Financial Supervisory Service periodically conducts a general examination of our operations. It also performs specific audits on particular aspects of our operations, such as risk management, credit monitoring and liquidity, as the need arises.
Kookmin Bank’s Audit Department is the execution body for its audit committee and supports Kookmin Bank’s management objectives by auditing the operations of its branches using a risk analysis system and reviewing the operations of its headquarters and subsidiaries through the use of “risk-based audit” in accordance with the “business measurement process” audit methodology, which requires that the Audit Department evaluate the risk and process of its business units and concentrate its audit capacity with respect to high risk areas.
As a result of recent regulatory trends, Kookmin Bank’s Audit Department is continuing its efforts to establish an advanced audit system and value-added internal audit by introducing risk-basedaudit techniques.
Our Compliance Supporting Department operates a compliance system to ensure that all of our employees comply with the relevant laws and regulations. This system’s main function is to establish and manage our compliance program, educate employees and management and improve our internal control process.
Legal Risk
We consider legal risk as a part of our operational risk. The uncertainty of the enforceability of the obligations of our customers and counterparties creates legal risk. Changes in laws and regulations could also adversely affect us. Legal risk is higher in new areas of business where the law is often untested in the courts, although legal risk can also increase in our traditional business to the extent that the legal and regulatory landscape in Korea is changing and many new laws and regulations governing the financial industry remain untested. Our Compliance Supporting Department seeks to minimize legal risk by using stringent legal documentation, employing procedures designed to ensure that transactions are properly authorized and consulting legal advisers.
IT System Operational Risk
The integrity of our IT systems, and their ability to withstand potential catastrophic events, are crucial to our continuing operations. Accordingly, we are continuing to strengthen our disaster recovery capabilities. In order to minimize operational risks relating to our IT systems, we have implemented a multi-CPU system that runs multiple CPUs simultaneously on-site and ensures system continuity in case any of the CPUs fails. This system
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backs up our data systems at an off-site location on a real-time basis to ensure that our operations can be carried out normally and without material interruption in the event of CPU failure. Also, in order to protect our Internet banking services from system failures and cyber attacks, we process our Internet transactions through three separate data processing centers.
We currently test our disaster recovery systems on a quarterly basis, with the comprehensive testing including our branches and the main IT center’s disaster recovery system. Our disaster recovery capabilities involve a number of operations other than our core banking operations, including credit card and call center transactions. Internally, our System Operations Department monitors all of our computerized network processes and IT systems. This department monitors and reports on any unusual delays or irregularities reported by our branches. In addition, Kookmin Bank’s Information Security Department is responsible for the daily monitoring of its information security system. Our business operations regularly conduct IT security inspections with respect to such operations and have implemented measures to identify and respond collectively to security breach attempts, such as hacking attempts.
In particular, at Kookmin Bank, we have taken steps to establish a comprehensive security system aimed at detecting and responding to internal and external threats to its IT system and have implemented network segregation on the computers of all employees so that Intranet and Extranet functions are segregated. We have endeavored to enhance protection of customer data by using personal identification numbers internally generated and managed by Kookmin Bank in all customer financial transaction, in lieu of the resident registration numbers of its customers, and by amending forms and templates to minimize collection of potentially sensitive customer data. Kookmin Bank’s chief information security officer is responsible for ensuring protection of information assets and technologies and reducing IT risks.
At KB Kookmin Card, we have taken steps to strengthen its information security infrastructure by implementing a solution to prevent attacks on its website and a security system to prevent unauthorized access to local networks and information, as well as an anti-photography system to prevent information leaks via photographs taken with smartphones. As part of strengthening its operational processes and procedures for customer information protection, KB Kookmin Card prohibits use of portable devices within the premises, requires managerial approval for all documents sent externally, including via email, and continuously monitors compliance with data protection policies, including through spot inspection of each department.
In 2009, Kookmin Bank obtained ISO 27001 certification, which relates to information security. In 2011, Kookmin Bank also obtained ISO 20000 certification, which relates to IT service management, and BS 25999 certification, which relates to business continuity management. Kookmin Bank is the first Korean bank to have obtained all three such international certifications. In addition, in 2013, 2015 and 2016, Kookmin Bank, we and KB Kookmin Card, respectively, obtained ISMS certification, which relates to information security management. In 2017, KB Kookmin Card obtained PCI DSS certification, which relates to protection of credit card data.
We implement various year-round education programs and training sessions designed to raise the information security awareness of both management and employees.
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Fees and Charges
Under the terms of the deposit agreement, as a holder of our ADSs, you are required to pay the following service fees to the depositary:
Fees
Issuance of ADSs
Delivery of deposited shares against surrender of ADSs
Distribution of cash dividends or other cash distributions
Transfer of ADSs, combination and split-up of American depositary receipts or interchange of certificated and uncertificated ADSs
Distribution or sale of securities pursuant to stock dividends, free stock distributions, exercise of rights or any other non-cash distributions
Depositary Services
As a holder of our ADSs, you are also responsible for paying certain fees and expenses incurred by the depositary and certain taxes and governmental charges such as:
Fees for the transfer and registration of shares charged by the registrar and transfer agent for the shares in Korea (i.e., upon deposit and withdrawal of shares).
Expenses incurred for converting foreign currency into U.S. dollars.
Expenses for cable, telex and fax transmissions and for delivery of securities.
Taxes and duties upon the transfer of securities (i.e., when shares are deposited or withdrawn from deposit).
Fees and expenses incurred in connection with the delivery or servicing of shares on deposit or other deposited securities.
Depositary fees payable upon the issuance and surrender of ADSs are typically paid to the depositary by the brokers (on behalf of their clients) receiving the newly issued ADSs from the depositary and by the brokers (on behalf of their clients) delivering the ADSs to the depositary for surrender. The brokers in turn charge these fees to their clients. Depositary fees payable in connection with distributions of cash or securities to ADS holders and the depositary services fee are charged by the depositary to the holders of record of ADSs as of the applicable ADS record date.
The depositary fees payable for cash distributions are generally deducted from the cash being distributed. In the case of distributions other than cash (i.e., stock dividend, rights), the depositary charges the applicable fee to the ADS record date holders concurrent with the distribution. In the case of ADSs registered in the name of the investor (whether certificated or uncertificated in direct registration), the depositary sends invoices to the applicable record date ADS holders. In the case of ADSs held in brokerage and custodian accounts (via the Depository Trust Company, or DTC), the depositary generally collects its fees through the systems provided by
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DTC (whose nominee is the registered holder of the ADSs held in DTC) from the brokers and custodians holding ADSs in their DTC accounts. The brokers and custodians who hold their clients’ ADSs in DTC accounts in turn charge their clients’ accounts the amount of the fees paid to the depositary.
In the event of refusal to pay the depositary fees, the depositary may, under the terms of the deposit agreement, refuse the requested service until payment is received or may set off the amount of the depositary fees from any distribution to be made to such holder of ADSs.
Note that the fees and charges you may be required to pay may vary over time and may be changed by us and by the depositary. You will receive prior notice of such changes.
Fees and Payments from the Depositary to Us
In 2018, we received the following payments from the depositary:
Reimbursement of listing fees:
Reimbursement of SEC filing fees:
Reimbursement of expenses related to our investor relations activities (investor conferences and investor relations agency fees, etc.) and legal fees (expenses related to the preparation of our Form 20-F for fiscal year 2017):
In addition, as part of its service to us, the depositary waives its fees for the standard costs and operating expenses associated with the administration of the ADS facility.
MATERIAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS AND USE OF PROCEEDS
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We have evaluated, with the participation of our chief executive officer and chief finance officer, the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2018. There are inherent limitations to the effectiveness of any system of disclosure controls and procedures, including the possibility of human error and the circumvention or overriding of the controls and procedures. Accordingly, even effective disclosure controls and procedures can only provide reasonable assurance of achieving their control objectives. Based upon our evaluation, our chief executive officer and chief finance officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2018 were effective to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the applicable rules and forms, and that it is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our chief executive officer and chief finance officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act. Under the
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supervision and with the participation of our management, including our chief executive officer and chief finance officer, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting based on the framework in Internal Control—Integrated Framework 2013 issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Our internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with IFRS as issued by the IASB. Our internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of our assets; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with IFRS as issued by the IASB, and that our receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorizations of our management and directors; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of our assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting is not intended to provide absolute assurance that a misstatement of our financial statements would be prevented or detected. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Based on our evaluation, our management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2018.
The effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2018 has been audited by Samil PricewaterhouseCoopers, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in its report included herein which expressed an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2018.
Attestation Report of the Registered Public Accounting Firm
The attestation report of our independent registered public accounting firm is included in Item 18 of this Form 20-F.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
There has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting during 2018 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Our board of directors has determined that Kyung Ho Kim and Suk Ho Sonu, our non-executive directors and members of our Audit Committee, qualify as “audit committee financial experts” and are independent within the meaning of this Item 16A.
We have adopted a code of ethics, as defined in Item 16B of Form 20-F under the Exchange Act. Our code of ethics applies to our chief executive officer and chief finance officer, as well as to our non-executive directors, non-standing directors and other officers and employees. Our code of ethics is available on our website at http://www.kbfg.com. If we amend the provisions of our code of ethics that apply to our chief executive officer and chief finance officer and persons performing similar functions, or if we grant any waiver of such provisions, we will disclose such amendment or waiver on our website at the same address.
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Audit and Non-audit Fees
The following table sets forth the fees billed to us by independent registered public accounting firm Samil PricewaterhouseCoopers during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018:
Audit fees
Audit-related fees
Tax fees
Total fees
Audit fees in the above table are the aggregate fees billed by Samil PricewaterhouseCoopers in connection with:
the audits of our annual financial statements and the review of our interim financial statements;
the audits of our special purpose entities in connection with the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act; and
our financial debenture offering services.
Audit-related fees in the above table are fees billed by Samil PricewaterhouseCoopers in connection with due diligence services rendered in the ordinary course of our business.
Tax fees in the above table are fees billed by Samil PricewaterhouseCoopers in connection with tax filing services for funds operated by KB Asset Management Co., Ltd.
Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures
Our Audit Committeepre-approves the engagement of our independent auditors for audit services with respect to our financial statements. Our Audit Committee has implemented a policy regardingpre-approval of certain other services provided by our independent auditors to our subsidiaries that the Audit Committee has deemed as not affecting their independence. Under this policy, pre-approvals for the following services to our subsidiaries have been granted by our Audit Committee to each of our subsidiaries’ audit committees: (i) services related to the audit of financial statements prepared in accordance with IFRS as adopted by Korea and internal controls under Korean laws and regulations; (ii) general tax advisory services; (iii) issuance of comfort letters in connection with offering of securities; and (iv) educational services provided to employees.
Any other audit or permitted non-auditservice must be pre-approved by the Audit Committee on a case-by-case basis. Our Audit Committee did not pre-approve any non-audit services under the de minimis exception of Rule 2.01(c)(7)(i)(C) of Regulation S-X as promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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The following table sets forth information regarding purchases by us of our common shares during the period covered by this annual report.
Period
January 1 to January 31, 2018
February 1 to February 28, 2018
March 1 to March 31, 2018
April 1 to April 30, 2018
May 1 to May 31, 2018
June 1 to June 30, 2018
July 1 to July 31, 2018
August 1 to August 31, 2018
September 1 to September 30, 2018
October 1 to October 31, 2018
November 1 to November 30, 2018
December 1 to December 31, 2018
Comprises common shares that were purchased through a broker in a series of open-market transactions in Korea in the periods indicated above, pursuant to a trust agreement for the acquisition of treasury shares dated November 27, 2017, which expired on November 26, 2018.
Comprises common shares that were purchased through a broker in a series of open-market transactions in Korea in the periods indicated above, pursuant to a trust agreement for the acquisition of treasury shares dated December 5, 2018, which will expire on December 4, 2019.
Other than as described above, neither we nor any “affiliated purchaser,” as defined in Rule10b-18(a)(3) of the Exchange Act, purchased any of our equity securities during the period covered by this annual report.
Differences in Corporate Governance Practices
Pursuant to the rules of the New York Stock Exchange applicable to foreign private issuers like us that are listed on the New York Stock Exchange, we are required to disclose significant differences between the New York Stock Exchange’s corporate governance standards and those that we follow under Korean law and in accordance with our own internal procedures. The following is a summary of such significant differences:
NYSE Corporate Governance Standards
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Executive Session
Nomination/Corporate Governance Committee
We maintain a Non-executive Director Nominating Committee composed of four non-executive directors.
We maintain a CEO Nominating Committee composed of all seven of our non-executive directors.
A compensation committee of independent directors is required. The committee must have a charter that addresses the purpose, responsibilities and annual performance evaluation of the committee. The charter must be made available on the company’s website. In addition, in accordance with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission rules adopted pursuant to Section 952 of the Dodd-Frank Act, the New York Stock Exchange listing standards were amended to expand the factors relevant in determining whether a committee member has a relationship with the company that will materially affect that member’s duties to the compensation committee.
Additionally, the committee may obtain or retain the advice of a compensation adviser only after taking into consideration all factors relevant to determining that adviser’s independence from management.
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Our Articles of Incorporation provide that our stockholders may, by special resolution, grant stock options to officers, directors and employees. All material matters related to stock options are provided in our Articles of Incorporation, and any amendments to the Articles of Incorporation are subject to shareholders’ approval.
Corporate Governance Guidelines
Not Applicable.
Reference is made to Item 19(a) for a list of all financial statements filed as part of this annual report.
List of Financial Statements:
Audited consolidated financial statements of KB Financial Group Inc. and subsidiaries, prepared in accordance with IFRS as issued by the IASB
Report of Samil PricewaterhouseCoopers, independent registered public accounting firm
Consolidated statements of financial position as of December 31, 2017 and 2018
Consolidated statements of comprehensive income for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018
Consolidated statements of changes in equity for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018
Consolidated statements of cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018
Notes to consolidated financial statements
Exhibits
Pursuant to the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, KB Financial Group has filed certain agreements as exhibits to this Annual Report on Form 20-F. These agreements may contain representations and warranties made by the parties. These representations and warranties have been made solely for the benefit of the other party or parties to such agreements and (i) may be intended not as statements of fact, but rather as a way of allocating the risk to one of the parties to such agreements if those statements turn out to be inaccurate, (ii) may have been qualified by disclosures that were made to such other party or parties and that either have been reflected in the company’s filings or are not required to be disclosed in those filings, (iii) may apply materiality standards different from what may be viewed as material to investors and (iv) were made only
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as of the date of such agreements or such other date(s) as may be specified in such agreements and are subject to more recent developments. Accordingly, these representations and warranties may not describe KB Financial Group’s actual state of affairs at the date of this annual report.
Description
Incorporated by reference to the registrant’s filing on Form 20-F(No. 000-53445), filed on June 15, 2009.
Incorporated by reference to the registrant’s filing on Form F-6 (No. 333-208008), filed on November 13, 2015.
Incorporated by reference to Note 41 of the consolidated financial statements of the registrant included in this annual report.
Incorporated by reference to the registrant’s filing on Form 20-F(No. 000-53445), filed on April 28, 2016.
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SIGNATURES
The registrant hereby certifies that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form 20-F and that it has duly caused and authorized the undersigned to sign this annual report on its behalf.
Date: April 30, 2019
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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of
KB Financial Group Inc.:
Opinions on the Financial Statements and Internal Control over Financial Reporting
We have audited the accompanying consolidated statements of financial position of KB Financial Group Inc. and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, and the related consolidated statements of comprehensive income, of changes in equity and of cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2018, including the related notes (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). We also have audited the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2018, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, and the results of its operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2018 in conformity with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board. Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2018, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the COSO.
Basis for Opinions
The Company’s management is responsible for these consolidated financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express opinions on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud, and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.
Our audits of the consolidated financial statements included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.
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Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
/s/ Samil PricewaterhouseCoopers
Seoul, Korea
April 30, 2019
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2008.
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KB FINANCIAL GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION
AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2017 AND 2018
ASSETS
Loans at amortized cost
LIABILITIES
Financial liabilities at fair value through profit and loss
Other liabilities
TOTAL EQUITY
Share capital
Equity attributable to shareholders of the company
The consolidated statement of financial position as of December 31, 2018 is prepared in accordance with IFRS 9 and IFRS 15, and the comparatives as of December 31, 2017 has not been restated.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018
Translation into
(Note 3)
(In millions of Korean won,
except per share amounts)
(In thousands,
except per share
amounts)
Interest income from financial instruments at fair value through other comprehensive income and amortized cost
Interest income from financial instruments at fair value through profit or loss
Interest income from loans and receivables and investments
Interest income from financial instruments at fair value through profit or loss (under IAS 39)
Insurance income
Insurance expense
Net insurance income(expense)
Net gains on financial assets/liabilities at fair value through profit or loss
Net gains on overlay adjustment
Net gains on financial assets/liabilities at fair value through profit or loss (under IAS 39)
Net operating income
(Continued)
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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (CONTINUED)
Net non-operating income
Income tax expense
Items that will not be reclassified to profit or loss
Remeasurements of net defined benefit liabilities
Share of other comprehensive income of associates and joint ventures
Items that may be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss
Valuation gains on financial investments
Gain(losses) on hedges of a net investment in a foreign operation
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Other comprehensive income(loss) for the year, net of tax
Total comprehensive income for the year attributable to:
The consolidated statement of comprehensive income for the year ended December 31, 2018 is prepared in accordance with IFRS 9 and IFRS 15, and the comparatives for the year ended December 31, 2017 has not been restated.
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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
Balance at January 1, 2016
Comprehensive income
Valuation losses on financial investments
Shares of other comprehensive income of associates
Losses on hedges of a net investment in a foreign operation
Total comprehensive income
Transactions with shareholders
Dividends paid to shareholders of the parent company
Acquisition of treasury shares
Issue of ordinary shares related to business combination
Total transactions with shareholders
Balance at December 31, 2016
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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY (CONTINUED)
Balance at January 1, 2017
Transfer to other accounts
Dividends paid to shareholders of the Parent Company
Disposal of treasury shares
Changes in interest in subsidiaries
Balance at December 31, 2017
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Balance at January 1, 2018
The effect of changing of accounting policy
Balance after reflecting the effect of accounting policy
Total comprehensive income(loss)
Non-controlling interests changes in business combination
Balance at December 31, 20181
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Total comprehensive income (loss)
The consolidated statement of changes in equity for the year ended December 31, 2018 is prepared in accordance with IFRS 9 and IFRS 15, and the comparatives for the year ended December 31, 2016 and 2017 has not been restated.
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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
Translation intoU.S. dollars
Cash flows from operating activities:
Adjustment for non-cash items
Net gain on financial assets/liabilities at fair value through profit or loss
Net loss (gain) on financial assets/liabilities at fair value through profit or loss (under IAS 39)
Net loss (gain) on derivative financial instruments for hedging purposes
Adjustment of fair value of derivative financial instruments
Provision for credit loss
Net loss (gain) on financial investments
Depreciation and amortization expense
Depreciation and amortization expense on VOBA
Other net losses (gains) on property and equipment/intangible assets
Share-based payments
Policy reserve appropriation
Post-employment benefits
Net interest expense
Loss (gain) on foreign currency translation
Gains on bargain purchase
Net other expense
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
Financial asset at fair value through profit or loss (under IAS 39)
Financial asset at fair value through profit or loss
Derivative financial instruments
Loans at fair value through other comprehensive income
Net cash inflow (outflow) from operating activities
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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (CONTINUED)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Net cash flows from derivative financial instruments for hedging purposes
Disposal of financial asset at fair value through profit or loss
Acquisition of financial asset at fair value through profit or loss
Disposal of financial investments
Acquisition of financial investments
Disposal of investments in associates and joint ventures
Acquisition of investments in associates and joint ventures
Disposal of property and equipment
Acquisition of property and equipment
Disposal of investment property
Acquisition of investment property
Disposal of intangible assets
Acquisition of intangible assets
Net cash flows from the change in subsidiaries
Net cash outflow from investing activities
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net increase in debts
Increase in debentures
Decrease in debentures
Increase in other payables from trust accounts
Dividends paid to non-controlling interests
Increase in non-controlling interests
Net cash inflow from financing activities
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year
The consolidated statement of cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2018 is prepared in accordance with IFRS 9 and IFRS 15, and the comparatives for the year ended December 31, 2017 has not been restated.
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. The Parent Company
KB Financial Group Inc. (the “Parent Company”) was incorporated on September 29, 2008, under the Financial Holding Companies Act of Korea. KB Financial Group Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively referred to as the “Group”) derive substantially all of their revenue and income from providing a broad range of banking and related financial services to consumers and corporations primarily in Korea and in selected international markets. The Parent Company’s principal business includes ownership and management of subsidiaries and associated companies that are engaged in financial services or activities. In 2011, Kookmin Bank spun off its credit card business segment and established a new separate credit card company, KB Kookmin Card Co., Ltd., and KB Investment & Securities Co., Ltd. merged with KB Futures Co., Ltd. The Group established KB Savings Bank Co., Ltd. in January 2012, acquired Yehansoul Savings Bank Co., Ltd. in September 2013, and KB Savings Bank Co., Ltd. merged with Yehansoul Savings Bank Co., Ltd. in January 2014. In March 2014, the Group acquired Woori Financial Co., Ltd. and changed the name to KB Capital Co., Ltd. Meanwhile, the Group included LIG Insurance Co., Ltd. as an associate and changed the name to KB Insurance Co., Ltd. in June 2015. Also, the Group included Hyundai Securities Co., Ltd. as an associate in June 2016 and included as a subsidiary in October 2016 by comprehensive exchange of shares. Hyundai Securities Co., Ltd. merged with KB Investment & Securities Co., Ltd. in December 2016 and changed the name to KB Securities Co., Ltd. in January 2017. KB Insurance Co., Ltd. became one of the subsidiaries through a tender offer in May 2017.
The Parent Company’s share capital as of December 31, 2018, is ￦ 2,090,558 million. The Parent Company has been listed on the Korea Exchange (“KRX”) since October 10, 2008, and on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) for its American Depositary Shares (“ADS”) since September 29, 2008. Number of shares authorized in its Articles of Incorporation is 1,000 million.
2. Basis of Preparation
2.1 Application of IFRS
The Group’s consolidated financial statements of the Group have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”). IFRS are the standards, subsequent amendments and related interpretations (“IFRICs”) issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”).
The preparation of consolidated financial statements requires the use of certain critical accounting estimates. Management also needs to exercise judgment in applying the Group’s accounting policies. The areas involving a higher degree of judgment or complexity, or areas where assumptions and estimates are significant to the consolidated financial statements are disclosed in Note 2.4.
The Group has applied the following standards and amendments for the first time for their annual reporting period commencing January 1, 2018. The adoption of these amendments did not have any significant impact on the current period or any prior period and is not likely to affect future periods, with the exception of the application of IFRS 9 Financial Instruments and IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers discussed below.
Amendments to IAS 28 Investments in Associates and Joint Ventures
Amendments to IAS 28 clarifies that a venture capital organization or a mutual fund, and similar entities may elect, at initial recognition, to measure investments in an associate or joint venture at fair value through profit or loss separately for each associate or joint venture.
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Amendments to IAS 40 Transfers of Investment Property
Amendments to IAS 40 clarifies that a transfer to, or from, investment property, including property under construction, can only be made if there has been a change in use that is supported by evidence. Paragraph 57 of the standard provides a list of such circumstances as examples.
Amendments to IFRS 2 Share-based Payment
Amendments to IFRS 2 clarifies accounting for a modification to the terms and conditions of a share-based payment that changes the classification of the transaction from cash-settled to equity-settled. Also, it clarifies that the measurement approach should treat the terms and conditions of a cash-settled award in the same way as for an equity-settled award.
Enactment of IFRIC 22 Foreign Currency Transactions and Advance Consideration
According to the enacted interpretation, the date of the transaction for the purpose of determining the exchange rate to use on initial recognition of the related asset, expense or income (or part thereof) is the date on which an entity initially recognizes the non-monetary asset or non-monetaryliability arising from the prepayment or receipt of advance consideration. In case there are multiple payments or receipts in advance, the entity should determine a date of the transaction for each payment or receipt of advance consideration.
IFRS 9 Financial Instruments
The Group applied IFRS 9 Financial Instruments with a date of initial application of January 1, 2018. As permitted by the transition requirements of IFRS 9, comparative periods have not been restated. The Group recognized the difference between the previous carrying amount and the carrying amount at the beginning of the annual reporting period that includes the date of initial application in the opening retained earnings of the annual reporting period that includes the date of initial application. Also, the Group applied “The Overlay Approach” under IFRS 4 at the initial application of IFRS 9. For details about impacts of the adoption of this IFRS, see Note 45.
IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers
The Group has applied IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers. As permitted by the transition requirements of IFRS 15, comparative periods have not been restated.
For details about impacts of the application of this IFRS, see Note 28 and 45.
The Group has changed the accounting policy for their annual reporting period commencing January 1, 2018.
Presentation of interest income arising from financial assets measured at fair value through profit or loss
The Group previously recognized interest income arising from financial assets at fair value through profit or loss as net gains (losses) on financial assets/liabilities at fair value through profit or loss in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income. From January 1, 2018, the Group changed the accounting policy, and corresponding interest income is presented as a portion of interest income in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income. The Group expects the change in accounting policy provides more relevant information.
The consolidated statement of comprehensive income for year ended December 31, 2017, has been restated by adjusting classification of interest income.
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The Group does not expect the change in accounting policy to have an impact on the consolidated statements of financial position, and total comprehensive income. The results and impact of the change on the consolidated statement of comprehensive income for the year ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Increase in interest income
Decrease in net gains (losses) on financial assets/liabilities at fair value through profit or loss
Decrease in net gains (losses) on financial assets/liabilities at fair value through profit or loss (under IAS 39)
Certain new accounting standards and interpretations that have been published that are not mandatory for annual reporting period commencing January 1, 2018 and have not been early adopted by the Group are set out below. The Group expects the effect on the financial statements applying the new standard will not be significant, with the exception of the adoption of IFRS 16 Lease
IFRS 16 Leases
IFRS 16 Leases issued in January 2016 is effective for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2019, with early adoption permitted. This standard will replace IAS 17 Leases, Interpretation IFRIC 4 Determining whether an Arrangement contains a Lease, Interpretation IFRIC 15 Operating Leases-Incentives, and Interpretation SIC 27 Evaluating the Substance of Transactions Involving the Legal Form of a Lease.
At inception of a contract, the Group shall assess whether the contract is, or contains, a lease. Also, at the date of initial application, the Group shall assess whether the contract is, or contains, a lease in accordance with the standard. However, the Group may not need to reassess all contracts, if the Group elects to apply the practical expedient not to apply the standard to contracts that were entered into before the date of initial application. At inception of a contract, the Group will assess whether the contract is, or contains, a lease.
For a contract that is, or contains, a lease, the Group shall account for each lease component within the contract as a lease separately from non-lease components of the contract. In addition, as a practical expedient, the lessee may elect, by class of underlying asset, not to separate non-lease components from lease components, and instead account for each lease component and any associated non-lease components as a single lease component. For the all (or partial) lease agreements, or the agreements including lease components, the Group plans to apply the practical expedient to account for each lease component and any associated non-lease components as a single lease agreement.
A lessee is required to recognize a right-of-use asset representing its right to use the underlying leased asset and a lease liability representing its obligation to make lease payments. The lessee may elect not to apply the requirements to short-term lease (a lease term of 12 months or less at the commencement date) and low value assets (e.g. underlying assets below $ 5,000). The Group plans not to apply the requirements to real estate rent for single-use (a lease for education and others) and low value assets (e.g. underlying assets below ￦ 5 million and $ 5,000).
In relation with sale and leaseback transactions, the Group (the seller-lessee) shall apply the requirements for determining when a performance obligation is satisfied in IFRS 15 ‘Revenue from Contracts with Customers’ to determine whether the transfer of an asset is accounted for as a sale of that asset. However, for those transactions before the date of initial application, the Group shall not reassess them.
The accounting treatment as a lessor did not change significantly from the one under IAS 17 Leases. The Bank expects the effect on the financial statements applying the new standard will not be significant as accounting for the Bank, as a lessor, will not significantly change.
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A lessee shall apply this standard to its leases either (a) retrospectively to each prior reporting period presented applying IAS 8 Accounting Policies, Changes in Accounting Estimates and Errors (Full retrospective application); or (b) retrospectively with the cumulative effect of initially applying the standard recognized at the date of initial application.
The Group plans to apply IFRS 16 retrospectively with the cumulative effect of initially applying the standard and as such will not restate any comparative information.
The Group performed an impact assessment to identify potential financial effects of applying IFRS 16 based on available information as at December 31, 2018 to identify effects on 2019 financial statements.
The total minimum lease payment expected to be paid by the Group in relation to operating leases before discounted to their present value is ￦ 591,190 million. When the payment is discounted at incremental borrowing rate of the lessee, the total minimum lease payment amounts to ￦ 550,322 million. As a result of the financial effects on the financial statements analyzed, the Group expects the underlying leased asset and a lease liability as at December 31, 2018 to be increased by ￦ 580,698 million and ￦ 550,322 million, respectively. The difference between the right-of-use asset and the lease liability has been arising from the adjustments made at theright-of-use asset for the lease contracts entered before the date of the adoption of this standard. On the other hand, the results of the assessment may change due to additional information that the Group may obtain after the assessment.
Amendments to IFRS 9 Financial Instruments
The narrow-scope amendments made to IFRS 9 Financial Instruments enable entities to measure certain prepayable financial assets with negative compensation at amortized cost. When a modification of a financial liability measured at amortized cost that does not result in derecognition, a modification gain or loss shall be recognized in profit or loss.
Amendments to IAS 19 Employee Benefits
The amendments require that an entity shall calculate current service cost and net interest for the remainder of the reporting period after a plan amendment, curtailment or settlement based on updated actuarial assumptions from the date of the change. The amendments also require that a reduction in a surplus must be recognized in profit or loss even if that surplus was not previously recognized because of the impact of the asset ceiling.
The amendments clarify that an entity shall apply IFRS 9 to financial instruments in an associate or joint venture to which the equity method is not applied. These include long-term interests that, in substance, form part of the entity’s net investment in an associate or joint venture. These amendments will be applied for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2019, with early adoption permitted. In accordance with the transitional provisions in IFRS 9, the restatement of the comparative information is not required and the cumulative effects of initially applying the amendments retrospectively should be recognized in the beginning balance of retained earnings (or other components of equity, as appropriate) at the date of initial application.
Enactment to Interpretation of IFRIC 23 Uncertainty over Income Tax Treatments
The enactment clarifies the accounting for uncertainties in income taxes in the event that the decision of taxation authorities or courts can change tax treatment. The enactment presents calculating methods of disclosure amount based on the possibility of future recognition of the income tax treatment, and requires disclosure of the uncertainty of the amount.
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Annual Improvements to IFRS 3 Business Combination
The amendments clarify that when a party to a joint arrangement obtains control of a business that is a joint operation, and had rights to the assets and obligations for the liabilities relating to that joint operation immediately before the acquisition date, the transaction is a business combination achieved in stages. In such cases, the acquirer shall remeasure its entire previously held interest in the joint operation.
Annual Improvements to IFRS 11 Joint Agreements
The amendments clarify that when a party that participates in, but does not have joint control of, a joint operation might obtain joint control of the joint operation in which the activity of the joint operation constitutes a business. In such cases, previously held interests in the joint operation are not remeasured.
Annual Improvements to Paragraph 57A of IAS 12 Income Tax
The amendment is applied to all the income tax consequences of dividends and requires an entity to recognize the income tax consequences of dividends in profit or loss, other comprehensive income or equity according to where the entity originally recognized those past transactions or events.
Annual Improvements to IAS 23 Borrowing Cost
The amendments clarify that if a specific borrowing remains outstanding after the related qualifying asset is ready for its intended use (or sale), it becomes part of general borrowings.
IFRS 17 Insurance Contracts
IFRS 17 was issued in May 2017 as replacement for IFRS 4 Insurance Contracts and is effective for periods beginning on or after January 1, 2021. It requires a current measurement model where estimates are re-measured each reporting period. Contracts are measured using the building blocks of:
discounted probability-weighted cash flows
an explicit risk adjustment, and
a contractual service margin (“CSM”) representing the unearned profit of the contract which is recognized as revenue over the coverage period.
The standard allows a choice between recognizing changes in discount rates either in the income statement or directly in other comprehensive income. The choice is likely to reflect how insurers account for their financial assets under IFRS 9.
An optional, simplified premium allocation approach is permitted for the liability for the remaining coverage for short duration contracts, which are often written by non-life insurers.
There is a modification of the general measurement model called the ‘variable fee approach’ for certain contracts written by life insurers where policyholders share in the returns from underlying items. When applying the variable fee approach the entity’s share of the fair value changes of the underlying items is included in the contractual service margin. The results of insurers using this model are therefore likely to be less volatile than under the general model.
The new rules will affect the financial statements and key performance indicators of all entities that issue insurance contracts or investment contracts with discretionary participation features.
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2.2 Measurement Basis
The consolidated financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention unless otherwise specified.
2.3 Functional and Presentation Currency
Items included in the financial statements of each entity of the Group are measured using the currency of the primary economic environment in which the entity operates (“the functional currency”). The consolidated financial statements are presented in Korean won, which is the Parent Company’s functional and presentation currency (Notes 3.2.1 and 3.2.2).
2.4 Critical Accounting Estimates
The preparation of consolidated financial statements requires the application of accounting policies, certain critical accounting estimates and assumptions that may have a significant impact on the assets (liabilities) and incomes (expenses). Management’s estimates of outcomes may differ from actual outcomes if management’s estimates and assumptions based on management’s best judgment at the reporting date are different from the actual environment.
Estimates and assumptions are continually evaluated and any change in an accounting estimate is recognized prospectively by including it in profit or loss in the period of the change, if the change affects that period only. Alternatively if the change in accounting estimate affects both the period of change and future periods, that change is recognized in the profit or loss of all those periods.
Uncertainty in estimates and assumptions with significant risk that may result in material adjustment to the consolidated financial statements are as follows:
2.4.1 Income taxes
The Group is operating in numerous countries and the income generated from these operations is subject to income taxes based on tax laws and interpretations of tax authorities in numerous jurisdictions. There are many transactions and calculations for which the ultimate tax determination is uncertain.
If certain portion of the taxable income is not used for investments, increase in wages, and others in accordance with the Tax System for Promotion of Investment and Collaborative Cooperation (Recirculation of Corporate Income), the Group is liable to pay additional income tax calculated based on the tax laws. The new tax system is effective for three years from 2018. Accordingly, the measurement of current and deferred income tax is affected by the tax effects from the new system. As the Group’s income tax is dependent on the investments, increase in wages, and others, there exists uncertainty with regard to measuring the final tax effects.
2.4.2 Fair value of financial instruments
The fair value of financial instruments where no active market exists or where quoted prices are not otherwise available is determined by using valuation techniques. Financial instruments, which are not actively traded in the market and those with less transparent market prices, will have less objective fair values and require broad judgment on liquidity, concentration, uncertainty in market factors and assumptions in price determination and other risks.
As described in the significant accounting policies in Note 3.3, ‘Recognition and Measurement of Financial Instruments’, diverse valuation techniques are used to determine the fair value of financial instruments, from generally accepted market valuation models to internally developed valuation models that incorporate various types of assumptions and variables.
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2.4.3 Provisions for credit losses (allowances for loan losses, provisions for acceptances and guarantees, and unused loan commitments)
The Group tests impairment and recognizes allowances for losses on financial assets classified at amortized cost, debt instruments measured at fair value through other comprehensive income and lease receivables through impairment testing and recognizes provisions for guarantees, and unused loan commitments. Accuracy of provisions for credit losses is dependent upon estimation of expected cash flows of the borrower for individually assessed allowances of loans, and upon assumptions and methodology used for collectively assessed allowances for groups of loans, guarantees and unused loan commitments.
2.4.4 Net defined benefit liability
The present value of net defined benefit liability depends on a number of factors that are determined on an actuarial basis using a number of assumptions (Note 24).
2.4.5 Impairment of goodwill
The recoverable amounts of cash-generating units have been determined based onvalue-in-use calculations to test whether goodwill has suffered any impairment (Note 15).
3. Significant Accounting Policies
The significant accounting policies applied in the preparation of these consolidated financial statements are set out below. The items related to financial instruments on the consolidated financial statements were stated under IFRS 9 for the current year, and under ISA 39 for the year ended December 31, 2017. And The items related to Revenue from Contracts with Customers were stated under IFRS 15 for the current year, and under IAS 18 for the year ended December 31, 2017. The accounting policies on financial instruments were applied for current period, and comparatives are not restated retrospectively. Except for the changes related to financial instruments, these policies have been consistently applied to all periods presented.
3.1 Consolidation
3.1.1 Subsidiaries
Subsidiaries are companies that are controlled by the Group. The Group controls an investee when it is exposed, or has rights, to variable returns from its involvement with the investee and has the ability to affect those returns through its power over the investee. The existence and effects of potential voting rights that are currently exercisable or convertible are considered when assessing whether the Group controls another entity. Subsidiaries are fully consolidated from the date when control is transferred to the Group and de-consolidated from the date when control is lost.
If a subsidiary uses accounting policies other than those adopted in the consolidated financial statements for like transactions and events in similar circumstances, appropriate adjustments are made to make the subsidiary’s accounting policies conform to those of the Group when the subsidiary’s financial statements are used by the Group in preparing the consolidated financial statements.
Profit or loss and each component of other comprehensive income are attributed to the owners of the Parent Company and to thenon-controlling interests, if any. Total comprehensive income is attributed to the owners of the Parent Company and to the non-controlling interests even if this results in the non-controlling interests having a negative balance.
Transactions with non-controlling interests that do not result in loss of control are accounted for as equity transactions; that is, as transactions with the owners exercising their entitlement. The difference between fair
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value of any consideration paid and the relevant share acquired of the carrying value of net assets of the subsidiary is recorded in equity. Gains or losses on disposals to non-controlling interests are also recorded in equity.
When the Group ceases to have control, any retained interest in the entity is re-measured to its fair value at the date when control is lost, with the change in carrying amount recognized in profit or loss. The fair value is the initial carrying amount for the purposes of subsequently accounting for the retained interest as an associate, joint venture or financial asset. In addition, any amounts previously recognized in other comprehensive income in respect of that entity are accounted for as if the Group had directly disposed of the related assets or liabilities. Amounts previously recognized in other comprehensive income are reclassified to profit or loss.
The Group applies the acquisition method to account for business combinations. The consideration transferred is measured at the fair values of the assets transferred, and identifiable assets acquired and liabilities and contingent liabilities assumed in a business combination are initially measured at their fair values at the acquisition date. The Group recognizes any non-controlling interest in the acquiree on an acquisition-by-acquisition basis in the event of liquidation, either at fair value or at the non-controlling interest’s proportionate share of the recognized amounts of acquiree’s identifiable net assets. Acquisition-related costs are expensed as incurred.
In a business combination achieved in stages, the Group shall remeasure its previously held equity interest in the acquiree at its acquisition-date fair value and recognize the resulting gain or loss, if any, in profit or loss or other comprehensive income, as appropriate. In prior reporting periods, the Group may have recognized changes in the value of its equity interest in the acquiree in other comprehensive income. If so, the amount that was recognized in other comprehensive income shall be reclassified as profit or loss, or retained earnings, on the same basis as would be required if the Group had disposed directly of the previously held equity interest.
The Group applies the book amount method to account for business combinations of entities under a common control. Identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination are measured at their book amounts on the consolidated financial statements of the Group. In addition, the difference between the sum of consolidated book amounts of the assets and liabilities transferred and accumulated other comprehensive income; and the consideration paid is recognized as capital surplus.
3.1.2 Associates and Joint ventures
Associates are entities over which the Group has significant influence in the financial and operating policy decisions. Generally, if the Group holds 20% to 50% of the voting power of the investee, it is presumed that the Group has significant influence, it is presumed that the Group has significant influence.
Joint ventures are investments in which the Group jointly controls over economic activities pursuant to contractual arrangement. Decisions on financial and operating policies require unanimous consent of the parties sharing control.
Under the equity method, investments in associates and joint ventures are initially recognized at cost and the carrying amount is increased or decreased to recognize the Group’s share of the profit or loss of the investee and changes in the investee’s equity after the date of acquisition. The Group’s share of the profit or loss of the investee is recognized in the Group’s profit or loss. Distributions received from an investee reduce the carrying amount of the investment. Profit and loss resulting from ‘upstream’ and ‘downstream’ transactions between the Group and associates are eliminated to the extent at the Group’s interest in associates. Unrealized losses are eliminated in the same way as unrealized gains except that they are only eliminated to the extent that there is no evidence of impairment.
If associates and joint ventures use accounting policies other than those adopted in the consolidated financial statements for like transactions and events in similar circumstances, appropriate adjustments are made
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to make the associate’s accounting policies conform to those of the Group when the associate’s financial statements are used by the Group in applying equity method.
After the carrying amount of the investment is reduced to zero, additional losses are provided for, and a liability is recognized, only to the extent that the Group has incurred legal or constructive obligations or made payments on behalf of the investee.
The Group determines at each reporting period whether there is any objective evidence that the investments in the associates and joint ventures are impaired. If this is the case, the Group calculates the amount of impairment as the difference between the recoverable amount of the associates and its carrying value and recognizes the amount as ‘non-operating income (expense)’ in the statements of comprehensive income.
3.1.3 Structured entity
A structured entity is an entity that has been designed so that voting or similar rights are not the dominant factor in deciding who controls the entity. When the Group decides whether it has power to the structured entities in which the Group has interests, it considers factors such as the purpose, the form, the practical ability to direct the relevant activities of a structured entity, the nature of its relationship with a structured entity and the amount of exposure to variable returns.
3.1.4 Trusts and funds
The Group provides management services for trust assets, collective investment and other funds. These trusts and funds are not consolidated in the Group’s consolidated financial statements, except for trusts and funds over which the Group has control.
3.1.5 Intra-group transactions
All intra-group balances and transactions, and any unrealized gains arising on intra-group transactions, are eliminated in preparing the consolidated financial statements. Unrealized losses are eliminated in the same way as unrealized gains except that they are only eliminated to the extent that there is no evidence of impairment.
3.2 Foreign Currency
3.2.1 Foreign currency transactions
A foreign currency transaction is recorded, on initial recognition in the functional currency, by applying the spot exchange rate between the functional currency and the foreign currency at the date of the transaction. At the end of each reporting period, foreign currency monetary items are translated using the closing rate which is the spot exchange rate at the end of the reporting period. Non-monetary items that are measured at fair value in a foreign currency are translated using the spot exchange rates at the date when the fair value was determined and non-monetary items that are measured in terms of historical cost in a foreign currency are translated using the spot exchange rate at the date of the transaction.
Exchange differences arising on the settlement of monetary items or on translating monetary items at rates different from those at which they were translated on initial recognition during the period or in previous consolidated financial statements are recognized in profit or loss in the period in which they arise, except for exchange differences arising on net investments in a foreign operation and financial liability designated as a hedge of the net investment. When gains or losses on a non-monetary item are recognized in other comprehensive income, any exchange component of those gains or losses are also recognized in other comprehensive income. Conversely, when gains or losses on a non-monetary item are recognized in profit or loss, any exchange component of those gains or losses are also recognized in profit or loss.
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3.2.2 Foreign operations
The financial performance and financial position of all foreign operations, whose functional currencies differ from the Group’s presentation currency, are translated into the Group’s presentation currency using the following procedures.
Assets and liabilities for each statement of financial position presented (including comparatives) are translated at the closing rate at the end of the reporting period, unless the functional currency of the foreign operation is in hyper-inflationary economy. Income and expenses in the statement of comprehensive income presented are translated using the average exchange rates for the period. All resulting exchange differences are recognized in other comprehensive income.
Any goodwill arising from the acquisition of a foreign operation and any fair value adjustments to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities arising from the acquisition of that foreign operation are treated as assets and liabilities of the foreign operation. Thus, they are expressed in the functional currency of the foreign operation and are translated into the presentation currency at the closing rate.
On the disposal of a foreign operation, the cumulative amount of the exchange differences relating to that foreign operation, recognized in other comprehensive income and accumulated in the separate component of equity, is reclassified from equity to profit or loss (as a reclassification adjustment) when the gains or losses on disposal are recognized. On the partial disposal of a subsidiary that includes a foreign operation, the Group redistributes the proportionate share of the cumulative amount of the exchange differences recognized in other comprehensive income to the non-controlling interests in that foreign operation. In any other partial disposal of a foreign operation, the Group reclassifies to profit or loss only the proportionate share of the cumulative amount of the exchange differences recognized in other comprehensive income.
3.2.3 Net investment in a foreign operation
If the settlement of a monetary item receivable from or payable to a foreign operation is neither planned nor likely to occur in the foreseeable future, then foreign currency difference arising on the item which in substance is considered to form part of the net investment in the foreign operation, are recognized in the other comprehensive income and shall be reclassified to profit or loss on disposal of the investment.
3.3 Recognition and Measurement of Financial Instruments
3.3.1 Initial recognition
The Group recognizes a financial asset or a financial liability in its statement of financial position when the Group becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the instrument. A regular way purchase or sale of financial assets (a purchase or sale of a financial asset under a contract whose terms require delivery of the financial instruments within the time frame established generally by market regulation or practice) is recognized and derecognized using trade date accounting.
The Group classifies financial assets as financial assets at fair value through profit or loss, financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income, or financial assets at amortized cost. The Group classifies financial liabilities as financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss, or other financial liabilities. The classification depends on the nature and holding purpose of the financial instrument at initial recognition in the consolidated financial statements.
At initial recognition, a financial asset or financial liability is measured at its fair value plus or minus, in the case of a financial asset or financial liability not at fair value through profit or loss, transaction costs that are directly attributable to the acquisition or issue of the financial asset or financial liability. The fair value is defined
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as the amount for which an asset could be exchanged, or a liability settled, between knowledgeable, willing parties in an arm’s length transaction. The fair value of a financial instrument on initial recognition is normally the transaction price (that is, the fair value of the consideration given or received) in an arm’s length transaction.
3.3.2 Subsequent measurement
After initial recognition, financial instruments are measured at amortized cost or fair value based on classification at initial recognition.
Amortized cost
The amortized cost of a financial asset or financial liability is the amount at which the financial asset or financial liability is measured on initial recognition:
minus the principal repayments
plus or minus the cumulative amortization using the effective interest method of any difference between that initial amount and the maturity amount
or any reduction (directly or through the use of an allowance account) due to impairment or uncollectibility
Fair value
Fair values, which the Group primarily uses for the measurement of financial instruments, are the published price quotations based on market prices or dealer price quotations of financial instruments traded in an active market where available. These are the best evidence of fair value. A financial instrument is regarded as quoted in an active market if quoted prices are readily and regularly available from an exchange, dealer, broker, an entity in the same industry, pricing service or regulatory agency, and those prices represent actual and regularly occurring market transactions on an arm’s length basis.
If the market for a financial instrument is not active, fair value is determined either by using a valuation technique or independent third-party valuation service. Valuation techniques include using recent arm’s length market transactions between knowledgeable, willing parties, if available, referencing to the current fair value of another instrument that is substantially the same, discounted cash flow analysis and option pricing models.
The Group uses valuation models that are commonly used by market participants and customized for the Group to determine fair values of common over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives such as options, interest rate swaps and currency swaps which are based on the inputs observable in markets. For more complex instruments, the Group uses internally developed models, which are usually based on valuation methods and techniques generally used within the industry, or a value measured by an independent external valuation institution as the fair values if all or some of the inputs to the valuation models are not market observable and therefore it is necessary to estimate fair value based on certain assumptions.
In addition, the fair value information recognized in the statements of financial position is classified into the following fair value hierarchy, reflecting the significance of the input variables used in the fair value measurement.
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The level in the fair value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement is categorized in its entirety shall be determined on the basis of the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. For this purpose, the significance of an input is assessed against the fair value measurement in its entirety.
If a fair value measurement uses observable inputs that require significant adjustment based on unobservable inputs, that measurement is a Level 3 measurement.
If the valuation technique does not reflect all factors which market participants would consider in setting a price, the fair value is adjusted to reflect those factors. Those factors include counterparty credit risk, bid-ask spread, liquidity risk and others.
The chosen valuation technique makes maximum use of market inputs and relies as little as possible on entity-specific inputs. It incorporates all factors that market participants would consider in setting a price and is consistent with economic methodologies applied for pricing financial instruments. Periodically, the Group calibrates the valuation technique and tests its validity using prices of observable current market transactions of the same instrument or based on other relevant observable market data.
3.3.3 Derecognition
Derecognition is the removal of a previously recognized financial asset or financial liability from the statement of financial position. The Group derecognizes a financial asset or a financial liability when, and only when:
Derecognition of financial assets
Financial assets are derecognized when the contractual rights to the cash flows from the financial assets expire or the financial assets have been transferred and substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership of the financial assets are also transferred, or all the risks and rewards of ownership of the financial assets are neither substantially transferred nor retained and the Group has not retained control. If the Group neither transfers nor disposes of substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership of the financial assets, the Group continues to recognize the financial asset to the extent of its continuing involvement in the financial asset.
If the Group transfers the contractual rights to receive the cash flows of the financial asset, but retains substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership of the financial asset, the Group continues to recognize the transferred asset in its entirety and recognize a financial liability for the consideration received.
The Group writes off financial assets in its entirety or to a portion thereof when the principal and interest on the principal amount outstanding are determined to be no longer recoverable. In general, the Group considers write-off if significant financial difficulties of the debtor, or delinquency in interest or principal payments is indicated. The write-off decision is made in accordance with internal regulations and may require approval from external institution, if necessary. After the write-off,the Group can collect the written-off loans continuously according to the internal policy. Recovered amounts of financial assets previously written-off are recognized at profit or loss.
Derecognition of financial liabilities
Financial liabilities are derecognized from the statement of financial position when the obligation specified in the contract is discharged, cancelled or expires.
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3.3.4 Offsetting
Financial assets and liabilities are offset and the net amount reported in the consolidated statements of financial position where there is a legally enforceable right to offset the recognized amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or realize the assets and settle the liability simultaneously. The legally enforceable right must not be contingent on future events and must be enforceable in the normal course of business and in the event of default, insolvency or bankruptcy of the Group or the counterparty.
3.4 Cash and Due from Financial Institutions
Cash and due from financial institutions include cash on hand, foreign currency, and short-term, highly liquid investments that are readily convertible to known amounts of cash and which are subject to an insignificant risk of changes in value, and due from financial institutions. Cash and due from financial institutions are measured at amortized cost.
3.5 Non-derivative Financial Assets
3.5.1 Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss
Financial assets classified as held for trading, financial assets designated by the Group as at fair value through profit or loss upon initial recognition, and financial assets that are required to be mandatorily measured at fair value through profit or loss are classified as financial assets at fair value through profit or loss
The Group may designate certain financial assets upon initial recognition as at fair value through profit or loss when the designation eliminates or significantly reduces a measurement or recognition inconsistency (sometimes referred to as ‘an accounting mismatch’) that would otherwise arise from measuring assets or liabilities or recognizing the gains and losses on them on different bases.
After initial recognition, a financial asset at fair value through profit or loss is measured at fair value and gains or losses arising from a change in the fair value are recognized in profit or loss. Interest income and dividend income from financial assets at fair value through profit or loss are also recognized in the statement of comprehensive income.
3.5.2 Financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income
The Group classifies below financial assets as financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income;
debt instruments that are a business model whose objective is achieved by both collecting contractual cash flows and selling financial assets, and consistent with representing solely payments of principal and interest on the principal amount outstanding or;
equity instruments, not held for trading with the objective of generating a profit from short-term fluctuations in price or dealer’s margin, designated as financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income
After initial recognition, a financial asset at fair value through other comprehensive income is measured at fair value. Gain and loss from changes in fair value, other than dividend income and interest income amortized using effective interest method and exchange differences arising on monetary items which are recognized directly in income as interest income or expense, are recognized as other comprehensive income in equity.
At disposal of financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income, cumulative gain or loss is recognized as profit or loss for the reporting period. However, cumulative gain or loss of equity instrument designated as fair value through other comprehensive income are not recycled to profit or loss at disposal.
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Financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income denominated in foreign currencies are translated at the closing rate. Exchange differences resulting from changes in amortized cost are recognized in profit or loss, and other changes are recognized as equity.
3.5.3 Financial assets measured at amortized cost
A financial asset, which are held within the business model whose objective is to hold assets in order to collect contractual cash flows and consistent with representing solely payments of principal and interest on the principal amount outstanding, are classified as a financial asset at amortized cost.
Financial assets at amortized cost are subsequently measured at amortized cost using the effective interest method after initial recognition and interest income is recognized using the effective interest method.
3.6 Expected Credit Loss of Financial Assets (Debt Instruments)
The Group measures expected credit loss and recognizes loss allowance at the end of the reporting period for financial assets measured at amortized cost and fair value through other comprehensive income with the exception of financial asset measured at fair value through profit or loss.
Expected credit losses are a probability-weighted estimate of credit losses (i.e. the present value of all cash shortfalls) over the expected life of the financial instrument. The Group measures expected credit losses by reflecting reasonable and supportable information that is reasonably available at the reporting date without undue cost or effort, including information about past events, current conditions and forecasts of future economic conditions.
The Group uses the following three measurement techniques in accordance with IFRS:
General approach: for financial assets and off-balance-sheet unused credit line that are not applied below two approaches
Simplified approach: for receivables, contract assets and lease receivables
Credit-impaired approach: for purchased or originated credit-impaired financial assets
Different measurement approaches are applied depending on significant increase in credit risk. 12 month expected credit losses is recognized when credit risk has not significantly increased since initial recognition. A loss allowance at an amount equal to lifetime expected credit losses is recognized when credit risk has significantly increased since initial recognition. Lifetime is presumed to be a period to the contractual maturity date of a financial asset (the expected life of the financial asset).
One or more of the following items is deemed significant increase in credit risk. 30 days past due presumption is applicable for all consolidated subsidiaries, and other standards are selectively applied considering applicability of each subsidiary with its specific indicators. When the contractual cash flows of a financial asset are renegotiated or otherwise modified, the Group determines whether the credit risk has increased significantly since initial recognition using the following information.
more than 30 days past due;
decline in credit rating at period end by more than certain notches as compared to that at initial recognition;
decline in ratings below certain level in the early warning system;
debt restructuring (except for impaired financial assets); and
credit delinquency information on Korea Federation of Banks, and etc.
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Under simplified approach, the Group shall always measure the loss allowance at an amount equal to lifetime expected credit losses. Under credit-impaired approach, the Group shall only recognize the cumulative changes in lifetime expected credit losses since initial recognition as a loss allowance for purchased or originated credit-impaired financial assets. In assessing credit impairment, the Group uses definition of default as in the new Basel Accord which rules calculation of Capital Adequacy Ratio.
The Group generally deems one or more of the following items credit-impaired:
no less than 90 days past due;
legal proceedings related to collection;
a borrower that has received a warning from the Korea Federation of Banks;
corporate borrowers that are rated C or D;
refinancing; and
debt restructuring.
3.6.1 Forward-looking information
The Group uses forward-looking information, when it determines whether the credit risk has increased significantly since initial recognition and measures expected credit losses.
The Group assumes the risk component has a certain correlation with the business cycle, and calculates the expected credit loss by reflecting the forward-looking information with macroeconomic variables on the measurement inputs.
The correlation between the major macroeconomic variables and the credit risk is as follows;
Key macroeconomic variables
Domestic GDP growth rate
Composite stock index
Construction investment change rate
Housing transaction price index
Consumer price index
Overnight call rate changes compare to previous year(%P)
Unemployment rate
Retail loan change rate
Forward looking information used in calculation of expected credit loss is derived by KB Financial Group Research Institute after comprehensive consideration of a variety of factors including scenario in management planning, third party forecast, and others.
3.6.2 Measuring expected credit losses on financial assets at amortized cost
The amount of the loss on financial assets at amortized cost is measured as the difference between the asset’s carrying amount and the present value of estimated future cash flows discounted at the financial asset’s original effective interest rate.
The Group estimates expected future cash flows for financial assets that are individually significant (individual assessment of impairment).
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For financial assets that are not individually significant, the Group collectively estimates expected credit loss by grouping loans with homogeneous credit risk profile (collective assessment of impairment).
Individual assessment of impairment
Individual assessment of impairment losses are calculated using management’s best estimate on present value of expected future cash flows. The Group uses all the available information including operating cash flow of the borrower and net realizable value of any collateral held.
Collective assessment of impairment
Collective assessment of loss allowance involves historical loss experience along with incorporation of forward-looking information. Such process incorporates factors such as type of collateral, product and borrowers, credit rating, size of portfolio and recovery period and applies ‘probability of default’(PD) on a group of assets and ‘loss given default’(LGD) by type of recovery method. Also, the expected credit loss model involves certain assumption to determine input based on loss experience and forward-looking information. These models and assumptions are periodically reviewed to reduce gap between loss estimate and actual loss experience.
Lifetime expected credit loss as at the end of the reporting period is calculated by product of carrying amount net of expected repayment, PD for each period and LGD adjusted by change in carrying amount.
3.6.3 Measuring expected credit losses on financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income
Measuring method of expected credit losses on financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income is equal to the method of financial assets at amortized cost, except for loss allowances that are recognized as other comprehensive income. Amounts recognized in other comprehensive income for sale or repayment of financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income are reclassified to profit or loss.
3.7 Derivative Financial Instruments
The Group enters into numerous derivative financial instrument contracts such as currency forwards, interest rate swaps, currency swaps and others for trading purposes or to manage its exposures to fluctuations in interest rates and currency exchange, amongst others. These derivative financial instruments are presented as derivative financial instruments within the consolidated financial statements irrespective of transaction purpose and subsequent measurement requirement.
The Group designates certain derivatives as hedging instruments to hedge the risk of changes in fair value of a recognized asset or liability or of an unrecognized firm commitment (fair value hedge) and the risk of changes in cash flow (cash flow hedge). The Group designates non-derivatives as hedging instruments to hedge the risk of foreign exchange of a net investment in a foreign operation (hedge of net investment).
At the inception of the hedge, there is formal designation and documentation of the hedging relationship and the Group’s risk management objective and strategy for undertaking the hedge. This documentation includes identification of the hedging instrument, the hedged item or transaction, the nature of the risk being hedged and how the Group will assess the hedging instrument’s effectiveness in offsetting the exposure to changes in the hedged item’s fair value or cash flows attributable to the hedged risk.
Derivatives are initially recognized at fair value. Subsequent to initial recognition, derivatives are measured at fair value, and changes therein are accounted for as described below.
3.7.1 Derivative financial instruments held for trading
All derivative financial instruments, except for derivatives that are designated and qualify for hedge accounting, are measured at fair value. Gains or losses arising from a change in fair value are recognized in profit or loss as part of net gains or losses on financial instruments at fair value through profit or loss.
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3.7.2 Fair value hedges
If derivatives qualify for a fair value hedge, the change in fair value of the hedging instrument and the change in fair value of the hedged item attributable to the hedged risk are recognized in profit or loss as part of other operating income and expenses. If hedged items are equity instruments and designated to present the change in fair value of the hedging instrument in other comprehensive income, recognized hedge ineffectiveness are presented in other comprehensive income. Fair value hedge accounting is discontinued prospectively if the hedging instrument expires or is sold, terminated or exercised, or the hedge no longer meets the criteria for hedge accounting or the Group revokes the designation. Once fair value hedge accounting is discontinued, the adjustment to the carrying amount of a hedged item is fully amortized to profit or loss by the maturity of the financial instrument using the effective interest method.
3.7.3 Cash flow hedges
The effective portion of changes in fair value of derivatives that are designated and qualify as cash flow hedges is recognized in other comprehensive income, limited to the cumulative change in fair value (present value) of the hedged item (the present value of the cumulative change in the future expected cash flows of the hedged item) from the inception of the hedge. The ineffective portion is recognized in gain or loss (other operating income or expense). The associated gains or losses that were previously recognized in other comprehensive income are reclassified from equity to profit or loss as a reclassification adjustment in the same period or periods during which the hedged forecast cash flows affects profit or loss. The associated gains or losses that were previously recognized in other comprehensive income are reclassified from equity to profit or loss as a reclassification adjustment in the same period or periods during which the hedged forecast cash flows affects profit or loss. Cash flow hedge accounting is discontinued prospectively if the hedging instrument expires or is sold, terminated or exercised, or the hedge no longer meets the criteria for hedge accounting or the Group revokes the designation. When the cash flow hedge accounting is discontinued, the cumulative gains or losses on the hedging instrument that have been recognized in other comprehensive income are reclassified to profit or loss over the year in which the forecast transaction occurs. If the forecast transaction is no longer expected to occur, the cumulative gains or losses that had been recognized in other comprehensive income are immediately reclassified to profit or loss.
3.7.4 Hedge of net investment
If derivatives and non-derivatives qualify for a net investment hedge, the effective portion of changes in fair value of hedging instrument is recognized in other comprehensive income and the ineffective portion is recognized in profit. The gain or loss on the hedging instrument relating to the effective portion of the hedge that has been recognized in other comprehensive income will be reclassified from other comprehensive income to profit or loss as a reclassification adjustment on the disposal or partial disposal of the foreign operation in accordance with IFRS 9 Financial Instruments.
3.7.5 Embedded derivatives
If a hybrid contract contains a host that is not an asset, an embedded derivative is separated from the host contract and accounted for as a derivative if, and only if the economic characteristics and risks of the embedded derivative are not closely related to those of the host contract and a separate instrument with the same terms as the embedded derivative would meet the definition of a derivative and the hybrid (combined) instrument is not measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in profit or loss. Gains or losses arising from a change in the fair value of an embedded derivative separated from the host contract are recognized in profit or loss as part of net gains or losses on financial instruments at fair value through profit or loss.
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3.7.6 Day one gain and loss
If the Group uses a valuation technique that incorporates data not obtained from observable markets for the fair value at initial recognition of the financial instrument, there may be a difference between the transaction price and the amount determined using that valuation technique. In these circumstances, the difference is deferred and not recognized in profit or loss, and is amortized by using the straight-line method over the life of the financial instrument. If the fair value of the financial instrument is subsequently determined using observable market inputs, the remaining deferred amount is recognized in profit or loss as part of net gains or losses on financial instruments at fair value through profit or loss or other operating income and expenses.
3.8 Property and Equipment
3.8.1 Recognition and measurement
All property and equipment that qualify for recognition as an asset are measured at cost and subsequently carried at cost less any accumulated depreciation and any accumulated impairment losses.
The cost of property and equipment includes any costs directly attributable to bringing the asset to the location and condition necessary for it to be capable of operating in the manner intended by management and the initial estimate of the costs of dismantling and removing the item and restoring the site on which it is located.
Subsequent expenditures are capitalized only when they prolong the useful life or enhance values of the assets but the costs of the day-to-day servicing of the assets such as repair and maintenance costs are recognized in profit or loss as incurred. When part of an item of an asset has a useful life different from that of the entire asset, it is recognized as a separate asset.
3.8.2 Depreciation
Land is not depreciated, whereas other property and equipment are depreciated using the method that reflects the pattern in which the asset’s future economic benefits are expected to be consumed by the Group. The depreciable amount of an asset is determined after deducting its residual value. As for leased assets, if there is no reasonable certainty that the Group will obtain ownership by the end of the lease term, the asset is fully depreciated over the shorter of the lease term and its useful life.
Each part of an item of property and equipment with a cost that is significant in relation to the total cost of the item is depreciated separately.
The depreciation method and estimated useful lives of the assets are as follows:
Depreciation method
Estimated useful life
Leasehold improvements
Equipment and vehicles
Finance leased assets
The residual value, the useful life and the depreciation method applied to an asset are reviewed at each financial year end. If expectations differ from previous estimates, the changes are accounted for as a change in an accounting estimate.
3.9 Investment Properties
3.9.1 Recognition and Measurement
Properties held to earn rentals or for capital appreciation or both are classified as investment properties. Investment properties are measured initially at their cost and subsequently the cost model is used.
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3.9.2 Depreciation
Land is not depreciated, whereas other investment properties are depreciated using the method that reflects the pattern in which the asset’s future economic benefits are expected to be consumed by the Group. The depreciable amount of an asset is determined after deducting its residual value.
Buildings
The residual value, the useful life and the depreciation method applied to an asset are reviewed at each financial year end. If expectations differ from previous estimates, the changes are accounted for as a change in an accounting estimate
3.10 Intangible Assets
Intangible assets are measured initially at cost and subsequently carried at their cost less any accumulated amortization and any accumulated impairment losses.
Intangible assets, except for goodwill and membership rights, are amortized using the straight-line method or double declining balance method with no residual value over their estimated useful economic life since the asset is available for use.
Amortization method
Industrial property rights
Software
VOBA
The amortization period and the amortization method for intangible assets with a definite useful life are reviewed at each financial year end. Where an intangible asset is not being amortized because its useful life is considered to be indefinite, the Group carries out a review in each accounting period to confirm whether or not events and circumstances still support the assumption of an indefinite useful life. If they do not, the change from the indefinite to definite useful life is accounted for as a change in an accounting estimate.
3.10.1 Value of Business Acquired (VOBA)
The Group recorded value of business acquired (VOBA) as intangible assets, which are the differences between the fair value of insurance liabilities and book value calculated based on the accounting policy of the acquired company. VOBA is an estimated present value of future cash flow of long-term insurance contracts at the acquisition date. VOBA is amortized over the above estimated useful life using declining balance method, and the depreciation is recognized as insurance expense.
3.10.2 Goodwill
Recognition and measurement
Goodwill arisen from business combinations before January 1, 2010, is stated at its carrying amount which was recognized under the Group’s previous accounting policy, prior to the transition to IFRS.
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Goodwill acquired from business combinations after January 1, 2010, is initially measured as the excess of the aggregate of the consideration transferred, fair value of non-controlling interest and the acquisition-date fair value of the acquirer’s previously held equity interest in the acquiree over the net identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed. If this consideration is lower than the fair value of the net assets of the business acquired, the difference is recognized in profit or loss.
For each business combination, the Group decides whether the non-controlling interest in the acquiree is initially measured at fair value or at the non-controlling interest’s proportionate share of the acquiree’s identifiable net assets at the acquisition date.
Acquisition-related costs incurred to effect a business combination are charged to expenses in the periods in which the costs are incurred and the services are received, except for the costs to issue debt or equity securities.
Additional acquisitions ofnon-controlling interest
Additional acquisitions ofnon-controlling interests are accounted for as equity transactions. Therefore, no additional goodwill is recognized.
Subsequent measurement
Goodwill is not amortized and is stated at cost less accumulated impairment losses. However, goodwill that forms part of the carrying amount of an investment in associates is not separately recognized and an impairment loss recognized is not allocated to any asset, including goodwill, which forms part of the carrying amount of the investment in the associates.
3.10.3 Subsequent expenditure
Subsequent expenditure is capitalized only when it enhances values of the assets. Internally generated intangible assets, such as goodwill and trade name, are not recognized as assets but expensed as incurred.
3.11 Leases
3.11.1 Finance lease
A lease is classified as a finance lease if it transfers substantially all the risks and rewards incidental to ownership. At the commencement of the lease term, the Group recognizes finance leases as assets and liabilities in its statements of financial position at amounts equal to the fair value of the leased property or, if lower, the present value of the minimum lease payments, each determined at the inception of the lease. Any initial direct costs of the lessee are added to the amount recognized as an asset.
Minimum lease payments are apportioned between the finance charge and the reduction of the outstanding liability. The finance charge is allocated to each period during the lease term so as to produce a constant periodic rate of interest on the remaining balance of the liability. Contingent rents are charged as expenses in the periods in which they are incurred.
The depreciable amount of a leased asset is allocated to each accounting period during the period of expected use on a systematic basis consistent with the depreciation policy the Group adopts for depreciable assets that are owned. If there is reasonable certainty that the lessee will obtain ownership by the end of the lease term, the period of expected use is the useful life of the asset; otherwise, the asset is fully depreciated over the shorter of the lease term and its useful life.
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3.11.2 Operating lease
A lease is classified as an operating lease if it does not transfer substantially all the risks and rewards incidental to ownership.
Leases in the financial statements of lessors
Lease income from operating leases are recognized in income on a straight-line basis over the lease term, unless another systematic basis is more representative of the time pattern in which use benefit derived from the leased asset is diminished. Initial direct costs incurred by lessors in negotiating and arranging an operating lease are added to the carrying amount of the leased asset and recognized as an expense over the lease term on the same basis as the lease income.
Leases in the financial statements of lessees
Lease payments are recognized as an expense on a straight-line basis over the lease term unless another systematic basis is more representative of the time pattern of the asset’s benefit, and the incentives from operating lease are recognized as a reduction of lease payments over the lease term.
3.12 Greenhouse Gas Emission Rights and Liabilities
The Group measured at zero the emission rights received free of charge from the government following the Enforcement of Allocation and Trading of Greenhouse Gas Emissions Allowances. Emission rights purchased are measured initially at cost and subsequently carried at their costs less any accumulated impairment losses. Emission liabilities are measured as the sum of the carrying amount of emission allowances held by the Group and best estimate of the expenditure required to settle the obligation for any excess emissions at the end of reporting period. The emission rights and liabilities are classified as ‘intangible assets’ and ‘provisions’, respectively, in the consolidated statement of financial position.
The emission rights held for trading are measured at fair value and the changes in fair value are recognized in profit or loss. The changes in fair value and gain or loss on disposal are classified as non-operating income and expenses.
3.13 Impairment of Non-Financial Assets
The Group assesses at the end of each reporting period whether there is any indication that anon-financial asset, except for (i) deferred income tax assets, (ii) assets arising from employee benefits and (iii) non-current assets (or group of assets to be sold) classified as held for sale, may be impaired. If any such indication exists, the Group estimates the recoverable amount of the asset. However, irrespective of whether there is any indication of impairment, the Group tests (i) goodwill acquired in a business combination, (ii) intangible assets with an indefinite useful life and (iii) intangible assets not yet available for use for impairment annually by comparing their carrying amount with their recoverable amount.
The recoverable amount is estimated for the individual asset. If it is not possible to estimate the recoverable amount of the individual asset, the Group determines the recoverable amount of the cash-generating unit to which the asset belongs (the asset’s cash-generating unit). A cash-generating unit is the smallest identifiable group of assets that generates cash inflows that are largely independent of the cash inflows from other assets or groups of assets. The recoverable amount of an asset is the higher of its fair value less costs to sell and its value in use. Value in use is the present value of the future cash flows expected to be derived from an asset or cash-generating unit that are discounted by a pre-tax rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the asset for which the future cash flow estimates have not been adjusted.
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If the recoverable amount of an asset is less than its carrying amount, the carrying amount of the asset is reduced to its recoverable amount. That reduction is an impairment loss and recognized immediately in profit or loss. For the purpose of impairment testing, goodwill arising from in a business combination is allocated to each of the cash-generating units that are expected to benefit from the synergies of the combination. The impairment loss is allocated first to reduce the carrying amount of any goodwill allocated to the cash-generating unit and then to the other assets of the unit pro rata on the basis of the carrying amount of each asset in the unit.
An impairment loss recognized for goodwill is not reversed in a subsequent period. The Group assesses at the end of each reporting period whether there is any indication that an impairment loss recognized in prior periods for an asset, other than goodwill, may no longer exist or may have decreased, and an impairment loss recognized in prior periods for an asset other than goodwill shall be reversed if, and only if, there has been a change in the estimates used to determine the asset’s recoverable amount since the last impairment loss was recognized. The increased carrying amount of an asset other than goodwill attributable to a reversal of an impairment loss cannot exceed the carrying amount that would have been determined (net of amortization or depreciation) had no impairment loss been recognized for the asset in prior years.
3.14 Non-Current Assets Held for Sale
A non-current asset or disposal group is classified as held for sale if its carrying amount will be recovered principally through a sale transaction rather than through continuing use. For this to be the case, the asset (or disposal group) must be available for immediate sale in its present condition and its sale must be highly probable. A non-current asset (or disposal group) classified as held for sale is measured at the lower of its carrying amount and fair value less costs to sell which is measured in accordance with the applicable IFRS, immediately before the initial classification of the asset (or disposal group) as held for sale.
Anon-current asset while it is classified as held for sale or while it is part of a disposal group classified as held for sale is not depreciated (or amortized).
Impairment loss is recognized for any initial or subsequent write-down of the asset (or disposal group) to fair value less costs to sell. Gains are recognized for any subsequent increase in fair value less costs to sell of an asset, but not in excess of the cumulative impairment loss that has been recognized.
3.15 Financial Liabilities
The Group classifies non-derivative financial liabilities into financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss or other financial liabilities in accordance with the substance of the contractual arrangement and the definitions of financial liabilities.
The Group recognizes financial liabilities in the consolidated statement of financial position when the Group becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the financial liability.
3.15.1 Financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss
Financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss include financial liabilities held for trading or designated as such upon initial recognition. Subsequent to initial recognition, financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss are measured at fair value, and changes therein are recognized in profit or loss. Upon initial recognition, transaction costs that are directly attributable to the acquisition are recognized in profit or loss as incurred.
In relation to securities lending or borrowing transactions, the Group records transaction using memo value when it borrows securities from Korea Securities Depository etc. The borrowed securities are treated as financial liabilities at fair value through profit and loss when the Group sells them. Changes in fair value at the end of the reporting period and difference between carrying amount at redemption and purchased amount are recognized as profit and loss.
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In addition, for the amount of change in the fair value of the financial liability that is attributable to changes in the credit risk of that liability, the Group presents this change in other comprehensive income, and does not recycle this to profit or loss, subsequently. When this treatment creates or enlarges an accounting mismatch, the Group recognizes this change as profit or loss for the current period.
3.15.2 Other financial liabilities
Non-derivative financial liabilities other than financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss are classified as other financial liabilities. Other financial liabilities include Deposits, Debts, Debentures and others. At the date of initial recognition, other financial liabilities are measured at fair value minus transaction costs that are directly attributable to the acquisition. Subsequent to initial recognition, other financial liabilities are measured at amortized cost, and its interest expense is recognized, using the effective interest method.
In case an asset is sold under repurchase agreement, the Group continues to recognize the asset with the amount sold being accounted for as borrowing.
The Group derecognizes a financial liability from the consolidated statement of financial position only when it is extinguished (i.e. when the obligation specified in the contract is discharged, cancelled or expires).
3.16 Insurance Contracts
KB Life Insurance Co., Ltd., and KB Insurance Co., Ltd., the subsidiaries of the Group, issue insurance contracts.
Insurance contracts are defined as “a contract under which one party (the insurer) accepts significant insurance risk from another party by agreeing to compensate the policyholder if a specified uncertain future event adversely affects the policyholder”. A contract that qualifies as an insurance contract remains an insurance contract until all rights and obligations are extinguished or expire. Such a contract that does not contain significant insurance risk is classified as an investment contract and is within the scope of IFRS 9, Financial Instruments to the extent that it gives rise to a financial asset or financial liability, except if the investment contract contains a Discretionary Participation Features (DPF). If the contract has a DPF, the contract is subject to IFRS 4, Insurance Contracts. The Group recognizes assets (liabilities) and gains (losses) relating to insurance contracts as other assets (liabilities) in the statements of financial position, and as other operating income (expenses) in the statements of comprehensive income, respectively.
3.16.1 Insurance premiums
The Group recognizes collected premiums as revenue on the due date of collection of premiums from insurance contracts and the collected premium which is not earned at the end of the reporting period is recognized as unearned premium.
3.16.2 Insurance liabilities
The Group recognizes a liability for future claims, refunds, policyholders’ dividends and related expenses as follows:
Premium reserve
Premium reserve refers to an amount based on the net premium method for payment of future claims with respect to events covered by insurance policies which have not yet occurred as of the reporting period. It is calculated as the greater of the amount using standard interest rate and standard loss ratio defined by Financial Supervisory Services and the amount using the actual underlying data that have been used in premium calculation.
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Reserve for outstanding claims
Reserve for outstanding claims refers to the amount not yet paid, out of an amount to be paid or expected to be paid with respect to the insured events which have been reported or which have been incurred but not reported (IBNR) as of the end of each fiscal year.
Unearned premium reserve
The premiums that are due before the end of the reporting period but applicable to the next period are included.
Policyholders’ dividends reserve
Policyholders’ dividends reserve including an interest rate guarantee reserve, a mortality dividend reserve and an interest rate difference dividend reserve is recognized for the purpose of provisioning for policyholders’ dividends in the future in accordance with statutes or insurance terms and conditions.
3.16.3 Liability adequacy test
The Group assesses at each reporting period whether its insurance liabilities are adequate, using current estimates of all future contractual cash flows and related cash flow such as claims handling cost, as well as cash flows resulting from embedded options and guarantees under its insurance contracts in accordance with IFRS 4. If the assessment shows that the carrying amount of its insurance liabilities is insufficient in light of the estimated future cash flows, additional reserve is recognized for the deficient amount. Future cash flows from long-term insurance are discounted at a future rate of return on operating assets, whereas future cash flows from general insurance are not discounted to present value. For liability adequacy tests of premium and unearned premium reserves, the Group considers all cash flow factors such as future insurance premium, deferred acquisition costs, operating expenses and operating premiums. In relation to the reserve for outstanding claims, the Group elects to use a model that best reflects the trend of paid claims among several statistical methods to perform the adequacy test.
3.16.4 Deferred acquisition costs
Acquisition cost is deferred in an amount actually spent for an insurance contract and equally amortized over the premium payment period or the period in which acquisition costs are charged for the relevant insurance contract. Acquisition costs are amortized over the shorter of seven years or premium payment period; if there is any unamortized acquisition costs remaining as of the date of surrender or lapse, such remainder shall be amortized in the period in which the contract is surrendered or lapsed.
3.17 Provisions
Provisions are recognized when the Group has a present obligation (legal or constructive) as a result of a past event and it is probable that an outflow of resources embodying economic benefits will be required to settle the obligation and a reliable estimate can be made of the amount of the obligation. The risks and uncertainties that inevitably surround many events and circumstances are taken into account in reaching the best estimate of provisions, and where the effect of the time value of money is material, the amount of provisions are the present value of the expenditures expected to be required to settle the obligation.
Provisions on confirmed and unconfirmed acceptances and guarantees, unfunded commitments of credit cards and unused credit lines of consumer and corporate loans are recognized using a valuation model that applies the credit conversion factor, probability of default, and loss given default.
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Provisions are reviewed at the end of each reporting period and adjusted to reflect the current best estimate. If it is no longer probable that an outflow of resources embodying economic benefits will be required to settle the obligation, the provisions are reversed.
If the Group has an onerous contract, the present obligation under the contract is recognized and measured as provisions. An onerous contract is a contract in which the unavoidable costs of meeting the obligations under the contract exceed the economic benefits expected to be received under it. The unavoidable costs under a contract reflect the minimum net cost to exit from the contract, which is the lower of the cost of fulfilling it and any compensation or penalties arising from failure to fulfill it.
3.18 Financial Guarantee Contracts
A financial guarantee contract requires the issuer (the Group) to make specified payments to reimburse the holder for a loss it incurs because a specified debtor fails to make payments when due in accordance with the original or modified terms of a debt instrument.
Financial guarantee contracts are initially recognized at fair value as other liabilities, and are amortized over the contractual term. After initial recognition, financial guarantee contracts are measured at the higher of:
The amount determined in accordance with IFRS 9, Financial Instruments or
The initial amount recognized, less, when appropriate, cumulative amortization recognized in accordance with IFRS 15, Revenue from Contracts with Customers.
3.19 Equity Instruments issued by the Group
An equity instrument is any contract or agreement that evidences a residual interest in the assets of an entity after deducting all of its liabilities.
3.19.1 Ordinary shares
Ordinary shares are classified as equity. Incremental costs directly attributable to the issue of new shares or the exercise of stock option are deducted from the equity, net of any tax effects.
3.19.2 Hybrid capital instruments
The Group classifies issued financial instruments, or their component parts, as a financial liability or an equity instrument depending on the substance of the contractual arrangement of such financial instruments. Hybrid bonds are classified as equity instruments and presented in equity, if the Group has an unconditional right to avoid delivering cash or another financial asset to settle a contractual obligation.
3.19.3 Treasury shares
If the Group acquires its own equity instruments, these are accounted for as treasury shares and are deducted directly from equity. No gains or losses are recognized in profit or loss on the purchase, sale, issue or cancellation of own equity instruments. If an entity within the Group acquires and retains treasury shares, the consideration paid or received is directly recognized in equity.
3.19.4 Hybrid financial instruments
A hybrid financial instrument is classified as a financial liability or an equity instrument depending on the substance of the contractual arrangement of such financial instrument. The liability component of the hybrid financial instrument is measured at fair value of the similar liability without conversion option at initial
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recognition and subsequently measured at amortized cost using effective interest rate method until it is extinguished by conversion or matured. Equity component is initially measured at fair value of hybrid financial instrument in entirety less fair value of liability component net of tax effect and it is not remeasured subsequently.
3.20 Revenue Recognition
The Group recognizes revenues in accordance with the following revenue recognition standard:
Step 1: Identify the contract with a customer.
Step 2: Identify the performance obligations in the contract.
Step 3: Determine the transaction price.
Step 4: Allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract.
Step 5: Recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation.
3.20.1 Interest income and expense
Interest income of financial assets at amortized cost and financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income, and expense are recognized in statements of comprehensive income using the effective interest method. The effective interest method is a method of calculating the amortized cost of a financial asset or a financial liability (or groups of financial assets or financial liabilities) and of allocating the interest income or interest expense over the relevant period.
The effective interest rate is the rate that exactly discounts estimated future cash receipts or payments through the expected life of the financial instrument or, where appropriate, a shorter period, to the net carrying amount of the financial asset or financial liability. When calculating the effective interest rate, the Group estimates cash flows considering all contractual terms of the financial instrument but does not consider future credit losses. The calculation includes all fees and points paid (main components of effective interest rates only) or received between parties to the contract that are an integral part of the effective interest rate, transaction costs, and all other premiums or discounts. In those rare cases when it is not possible to estimate reliably the cash flows or the expected life of a financial instrument (or group of financial instruments), the Group uses the contractual cash flows over the full contractual term of the financial instrument (or group of financial instruments).
Interest on impaired financial assets is recognized using the rate of interest used to discount the future cash flows for the purpose of measuring the impairment loss.
Interest earned arising from debt investments at fair value through profit or loss is also classified as interest income in statements of comprehensive income.
3.20.2 Fee and commission income
The Group recognizes financial service fees in accordance with the accounting standard of the financial instrument related to the fees earned.
Fees that are an integral part of the effective interest of a financial instrument
Such fees are generally treated as adjustments of effective interest. Such fees may include compensation for activities such as evaluating the borrower’s financial condition, evaluating and recording guarantees, collateral and other security arrangements, negotiating the terms of the instrument, preparing and processing documents and closing the transaction and origination fees received on issuing financial liabilities measured at amortized cost. However, fees relating to the creation or acquisition of a financial instrument at fair value through profit or loss are recognized as revenue immediately.
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Fees earned as services are provided
Such fees are recognized as revenue as the services are provided. Fees which can be earned through the certain periods, including account servicing fees, investment management fees, and etc. are recognized when the related services are provided.
Fees that are earned on the execution of a significant act
Such fees are recognized as revenue when the significant act has been completed.
Commission on the allotment of shares to a client is recognized as revenue when the shares have been allotted and placement fees for arranging a loan between a borrower and an investor is recognized as revenue when the loan has been arranged.
A syndication fee received by the Group that arranges a loan and retains no part of the loan package for itself (or retains a part at the same effective interest rate for comparable risk as other participants) is compensation for the service of syndication. Such a fee is recognized as revenue when the syndication has been completed.
3.20.3 Net gains/losses on financial instruments at fair value through profit or loss
Net gains/losses on financial instruments at fair value through profit or loss include profit or loss (changes in fair value, dividends, and gain/loss from foreign currency translation) from following financial instruments:
Gain or loss from financial instruments at fair value through profit or loss
Gain or loss from derivatives for trading, including derivatives for hedging that does not meet the condition of hedge accounting
3.20.4 Dividend income
Dividend income is recognized in profit or loss when the right to receive payment is established. Dividend income is recognized as relevant items on statements of profit or loss and other comprehensive income in accordance with the classification of equity instruments.
3.21 Employee Compensation and Benefits
3.21.1 Post-employment benefits: defined contribution plans
The contributions are recognized as employee benefit expense when they are due.
3.21.2 Post-employment benefits: defined benefit plans
All post-employment benefits, other than defined contribution plans, are classified as defined benefit plans. The amount recognized as a defined benefit liability is the present value of the defined benefit obligation less the fair value of plan assets at the end of the reporting period.
The present value of the defined benefit obligation is calculated annually by independent actuaries using the Projected Unit Credit method. The rate used to discount post-employment benefit obligations is determined by reference to market yields at the end of the reporting period on high quality corporate bonds. The currency and term of the corporate bonds are consistent with the currency and estimated term of the post-employment benefit obligations. Actuarial gains and losses including experience adjustments and the effects of changes in actuarial assumptions are recognized in other comprehensive income.
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When the total of the present value of the defined benefit obligation minus the fair value of plan assets results in an asset, it is recognized to the extent of the present value of any economic benefits available in the form of refunds from the plan or reductions in future contributions to the plan.
Past service cost is the change in the present value of the defined benefit obligation, which arises when the Group introduces a defined benefit plan or changes the benefits of an existing defined benefit plan. Such past service cost is immediately recognized as an expense for the reporting period.
3.21.3 Short-term employee benefits
Short-term employee benefits are employee benefits (other than termination benefits) that are due to be settled within 12 months after the end of the period in which the employees render the related service. The undiscounted amount of short-term employee benefits expected to be paid in exchange for that service is recognized as a liability (accrued expense), after deducting any amount already paid.
The expected cost of profit-sharing and bonus payments are recognized as liabilities when the Group has a present legal or constructive obligation to make such payments as a result of past events rendered by employees and a reliable estimate of the obligation can be made.
3.21.4 Share-based payment
The Group has provided its directors and employees with stock grant, and mileage stock programs. When stock grant options are exercised, the Group can either select to issue new shares or distribute treasury shares, or compensate the difference in fair value of shares and exercise price. When mileage stock options are exercised, the Group pays the amount equivalent to KB Financial Group’s share price in cash.
For a share-based payment transaction in which the terms of the arrangement provide the Group with the choice of whether to settle in cash or by issuing equity instruments, the Group determines that it has a present obligation to settle in cash because the Group has a past practice and a stated policy of settling in cash. Therefore, the Group accounts for the transaction in accordance with the requirements of cash-settled share-based payment transactions. For mileage stock option, the Group accounts for the transaction in accordance with cash-settled share-based payment transactions, which are recognized as accrued expenses at the time of vesting.
The Group measures the services acquired and the liability incurred at fair value, and the fair value is recognized as expense and accrued expenses over the vesting period. Until the liability is settled, the Group remeasures the fair value of the liability at the end of each reporting period and at the date of settlement, with any changes in fair value recognized in profit or loss for the reporting period.
3.21.5 Termination benefits
Termination benefits are payable when employment is terminated by the Group before the normal retirement date, or whenever an employee accepts voluntary redundancy in exchange for these benefits. The Group shall recognize a liability and expense for termination benefits at the earlier of the following dates: when the Group can no longer withdraw the offer of those benefits and when the Group recognizes costs for a restructuring that is within the scope of ISA 37 and involves the payment of termination benefits. Termination benefits are measured by considering the number of employees expected to accept the offer in the case of a voluntary early retirement. Termination benefits over 12 months after the reporting period are discounted to present value.
3.22 Income Tax Expenses
Income tax expense comprises current tax expense and deferred income tax expense. Current and deferred income tax are recognized as income or expense for the period, except to the extent that the tax arises from (a) a
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transaction or an event which is recognized, in the same or a different period outside profit or loss, either in other comprehensive income or directly in equity and (b) a business combination.
3.22.1 Current income tax
Current income tax is the amount of income taxes payable in respect of the taxable profit (loss) for a period. A difference between the taxable profit and accounting profit may arise when income or expense is included in accounting profit in one period, but is included in taxable profit in a different period. Differences may also arise if there is revenue that is exempt from taxation, or expense that is not deductible in determining taxable profit (loss). Current income tax liabilities (assets) for the current and prior periods are measured at the amount expected to be paid to (recovered from) the taxation authorities, using the tax rates (and tax laws) that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the end of the reporting period.
The Group offsets current income tax assets and current income tax liabilities if, and only if, the Group (a) has a legally enforceable right to offset the recognized amounts and (b) intends either to settle on a net basis, or to realize the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.
3.22.2 Deferred income tax
Deferred income tax is recognized, using the asset-liability method, on temporary differences arising between the tax based amount of assets and liabilities and their carrying amount in the financial statements. Deferred income tax liabilities are recognized for all taxable temporary differences and deferred income tax assets are recognized for all deductible temporary differences to the extent that it is probable that taxable profit will be available against which the deductible temporary difference can be utilized. However, deferred income tax liabilities are not recognized if they arise from the initial recognition of goodwill; deferred income tax is not accounted for if it arises from initial recognition of an asset or liability in a transaction other than a business combination that at the time of the transaction affects neither accounting nor taxable profit or loss.
Deferred income tax is provided on temporary differences arising on investments in subsidiaries, associates and joint ventures, except for deferred income tax liabilities for which the timing of the reversal of the temporary difference is controlled by the Group and it is probable that the temporary difference will not reverse in the foreseeable future.
The carrying amount of a deferred income tax asset is reviewed at the end of each reporting period. The Group reduces the carrying amount of a deferred income tax asset to the extent that it is no longer probable that sufficient taxable profit will be available to allow the benefit of part or all of that deferred income tax asset to be utilized.
Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are measured at the tax rates that are expected to apply to the period when the asset is realized or the liability is settled, based on tax rates (and tax laws) that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the end of the reporting period. The measurement of deferred income tax liabilities and deferred income tax assets reflects the tax consequences that would follow from the manner in which the Group expects, at the end of the reporting period, to recover or settle the carrying amount of its assets and liabilities.
The Group offsets deferred income tax assets and deferred income tax liabilities when the Group has a legally enforceable right to offset current income tax assets against current income tax liabilities; and the deferred income tax assets and the deferred income tax liabilities relate to income taxes levied by the same taxation authority on either the same taxable entity; or different taxable entities which intend either to settle current income tax liabilities and assets on a net basis, or to realize the assets and settle the liabilities simultaneously, in each future period in which significant amounts of deferred income tax liabilities or assets are expected to be settled or recovered.
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3.22.3 Uncertain tax positions
Uncertain tax positions arise from tax treatments applied by the Group which may be challenged by the tax authorities due to the complexity of the transaction or different interpretation of the tax laws, a claim for rectification brought by the Group, or an appeal for a refund claimed from the tax authorities related to additional assessments. The Group recognizes its uncertain tax positions in the consolidated financial statements based on the guidance in IAS 12. The income tax asset is recognized if a tax refund is probable for taxes paid and levied by the tax authority. However, interest and penalties related to income tax are recognized in accordance with IAS 37.
3.23 Earnings per Share
The Group calculates basic earnings per share amounts and diluted earnings per share amounts for profit or loss attributable to ordinary equity holders of the Parent Company and presents them in the statement of comprehensive income. Basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing profit or loss attributable to ordinary equity holders of the Parent Company by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the period. For the purpose of calculating diluted earnings per share, the Group adjusts profit or loss attributable to ordinary equity holders of the Parent Company and the weighted average number of shares outstanding for the effects of all dilutive potential ordinary shares including convertible bonds and share options.
3.24 Operating Segments
Operating segments are components of the Group where separate financial information is available and is evaluated regularly by the chief operating decision maker in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance.
Segment information includes items which are directly attributable and reasonably allocated to the segment.
3.25 Overlay Approach
The Group applies the overlay approach in accordance with IFRS 4, and financial asset is eligible for designation for the overlay approach if, and only if, the following criteria are met:
It is measured at fair value through profit or loss applying IFRS 9 but would not have been measured at fair value through profit or loss in its entirety applying IAS 39.
It is not held in respect of an activity that is unconnected with contracts within the scope of IFRS 4.
The Group reclassifies between profit or loss and other comprehensive income, and the amount reclassified is equal to the difference between:
The amount reported in profit or loss for the designated financial assets applying IFRS 9.
The amount that would have been reported in profit or loss for the designated financial assets if the insurer had applied IAS 39.
The Group is permitted to apply this approach either at initial recognition or it may subsequently designate financial assets that newly meet criterion of not being held in respect of activity unconnected with insurance contract, they having previously not met that criterion.
The Group continues to apply the overlay approach to a designated financial asset until that financial asset is derecognized. However, the Group de-designates a financial asset when the financial asset no longer meets the criterion. In this case, the Group reclassifies from accumulated other comprehensive income to profit or loss as a reclassification adjustment any balance relating to that financial asset.
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At the beginning of any annual period, the Group may stop applying the overlay approach to all designated financial assets, and shall not subsequently apply the overlay approach, if it stops using this approach because it is no longer an insurer.
3.26 United States dollar amounts
The Group operates primarily in Korea and its official accounting records are maintained in Korean won. The U.S. dollar amounts are provided herein as supplementary information solely for the convenience of the reader. Korean won amounts are expressed in U.S. dollars at the rate of ￦1,112.85 to U.S. $1.00, the U.S. Federal Reserve Bank of New York buying exchange rate in effect at noon, December 31, 2018. Such convenience translation into US dollars should not be construed as representations that the Korean won amounts have been, could have been, or could in the future be, converted at this or any other rate of exchange.
4. Financial Risk Management
4.1 Summary
4.1.1 Overview of Financial Risk Management Policy
The financial risks that the Group is exposed to are credit risk, market risk, liquidity risk, operational risk and others.
The Group’s risk management system focuses on increasing transparency, developing the risk management environment, preventing transmission of risk to other related subsidiaries, and the preemptive response to risk due to rapid changes in the financial environment to support the Group’s long-term strategy and business decisions efficiently. Credit risk, market risk, liquidity risk, and operational risk have been recognized as the Group’s key risks. These risks are measured and managed in Economic Capital or VaR (Value at Risk) using a statistical method.
4.1.2 Risk Management Organization
The Risk Management Committee establishes risk management strategies in accordance with the directives of the Board of Directors and determines the Group’s target risk appetite. The Committee approves significant risk matters and reviews the level of risks that the Group is exposed to and the appropriateness of the Group’s risk management operations as an ultimate decision-making authority.
The Risk Management Council is a consultative group which reviews and makes decisions on matters delegated by the Risk Management Committee, and discusses the detailed issues relating to the Group’s risk management.
Risk Management Division
The Risk Management Division is responsible for monitoring and managing the Group’s economic capital limit and managing detailed policies, procedures and working processes relating to the Group’s risk management.
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4.2 Credit Risk
4.2.1 Overview of Credit Risk
Credit risk is the risk of possible losses in an asset portfolio in the event of a counterparty’s default, breach of contract and deterioration in the credit quality of the counterparty. For risk management reporting purposes, the individual borrower’s default risk, country risk, specific risks and other credit risk exposure components are considered as a whole.
The Group uses definition of default as defined and applied in the calculation of Capital Adequacy Ratio (Basel III) in accordance with the new Basel Accord.
4.2.2 Credit Risk Management
The Group measures expected losses and economic capital on assets that are subject to credit risk management whether on- or off-balance sheet items and uses expected losses and economic capital as a management indicator. The Group manages credit risk by allocating credit risk economic capital limits.
In addition, the Group controls the credit concentration risk exposure by applying and managing total exposure limits to prevent an excessive risk concentration to each industry and borrower.
The Group has organized a credit risk management team that focuses on credit risk management in accordance with the Group’s credit risk management policy. Especially, the loan analysis department of Kookmin Bank, one of the subsidiaries, is responsible for loan policy, loan limit, loan review, credit management, restructuring and subsequent event management, independently of operating department. On the other hand, risk management group of Kookmin Bank is responsible for planning risk management policy, applying limits of credit lines, measuring the credit risk economic capital, adjusting credit limits, reviewing credit and verifying credit evaluation models.
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4.2.3 Maximum Exposure to Credit Risk
The Group’s maximum exposures of financial instruments, excluding equity securities, to credit risk without consideration of collateral values as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Financial assets
Due from financial institutions
Financial assets held for trading1
Financial assets designated at fair value through profit or loss
Derivatives
Loans2
Available-for-salefinancial assets
Other financial assets2
Off-balance sheet items
Acceptances and guarantees contracts
Financial guarantee contracts
Including financial instruments indexed to gold amounting to ￦ 73,855 million.
Loans and other financial assets are net of allowance.
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Due from financial institutions at amortized cost1
Financial instruments indexed to the price of gold
Loans at amortized cost1
Securities measured at fair value through other comprehensive income
Securities measured at amortized cost1
Loans measured at fair value through other comprehensive income
Other financial assets1
Due from financial institutions, loans at amortized cost, securities measured at amortized cost and other financial assets are net of allowance.
4.2.4 Credit Risk of Loans
The Group maintains an allowance for loan losses associated with credit risk on loans to manage its credit risk.
The Group assesses expected credit loss on financial asset at amortized cost and financial asset at fair value through other comprehensive income other than financial asset at fair value through profit or loss and recognizes loss allowance. Expected credit losses are a probability-weighted estimate of possible credit losses within certain range by reflecting reasonable and supportable information that is reasonably available at the reporting date without undue cost or effort, including information about past events, current conditions and forecasts of future economic conditions. The Group assesses the expected credit losses for loans categorized in financial assets at amortized cost, and presents it with the name of account ‘allowance for loan losses’ netting from the related carrying amounts. For the expected credit losses for loans categorized in financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income, the Group presents it in other comprehensive income.
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Loans as of December 31, 2017, are classified as follows:
Neither past due nor impaired
Past due but not impaired
Impaired
Less: Allowances1
Carrying amount
Collectively assessed allowances for loans are included as they are not impaired individually.
Credit quality of loans that are neither past due nor impaired are as follows:
Grade 1
Grade 2
Grade 3
Grade 4
Grade 5
Loans that are past due but not impaired are as follows:
Impaired loans are as follows:
Allowances under
Individual assessment
Collective assessment
Total allowances
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Loans as of December 31, 2018, are classified as follows:
Before netting of allowance.
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Credit quality of loans graded according to internal credit ratings are as follows:
The quantification of the extent to which collateral and other credit enhancements mitigate credit risk as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Guarantees
Deposits and savings
Real estate
4.2.5 Credit Quality of Securities
Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss and financial investments excluding equity securities that are exposed to credit risk as of December 31, 2017 are as follows:
Securities that are neither past due nor impaired
Impaired securities
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The credit quality of securities, excluding equity securities, that are neither past due nor impaired as of December 31, 2017, is as follows:
Financial assets held for trading
Financial investments excluding equity securities that are exposed to credit risk as of December 31, 2018, are as follows:
Before netting of allowance
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The credit qualities of securities, excluding equity securities according to the credit ratings by external rating agencies as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Credit quality
Domestic
KIS
NICE P&I
KAP
FnPricing Inc.
S&P
Fitch-IBCA
Moody’s
AA0 to AAA
A- to AA-
BBB0 to BBB+
BB0 to BBB-
BB- or under
Credit qualities of debt securities denominated in Korean won are based on the lowest credit rating by the domestic credit rating agencies, and those denominated in foreign currencies are based on the lowest credit rating by the foreign credit rating agencies.
4.2.6 Credit risk of due from financial institutions
The credit quality of due from financial institutions as of December 31, 2018, is classified as follows:
The credit qualities of due from financial institutions according to the credit ratings by external rating agencies as of December 31, 2018 is same as the credit qualities of securities, excluding equity securities.
4.2.7 Credit risk mitigation of derivatives
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4.2.8 Credit risk concentration analysis
Details of the Group’s loans by jurisdiction as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Korea
Europe
China
Japan
United States
The above is the Group’s loans at fair value through profit and loss, other comprehensive income or amortized cost.
Details of the Group’s industrial corporate loans as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Service
Wholesale & Retail
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Types of the Group’s retail and credit card loans as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Housing
Credit risk concentration of due from financial institutions, securities, excluding equity securities and derivative financial instruments
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Details of the Group’s credit risk of securities, excluding equity securities, and derivative financial instruments by industry as of December 31, 2017, are as follows:
Government and government funded institutions
Banking and insurance
Banking and insurance and others
Available-for-sale financial assets
Held-to-maturity financial assets
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Details of the Group’s credit risk concentration of due from financial institutions, securities, excluding equity securities, and derivative financial instruments as of December 31, 2018, are as follows:
Due from financial institutions at amortized cost
Due from financial institutions at fair value through profit or loss
Securities measured at fair value through profit or loss
Securities measured at amortized cost
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Credit risk concentrations of due from financial institutions, securities, excluding equity securities and derivative financial instruments by country
Details of the Group’s credit risk concentration of securities, excluding equity securities, and derivative financial instruments by country, as of December 31, 2017, are as follows:
Due from financial institutions, financial assets at fair value through profit or loss and derivatives that linked to gold price are mostly relevant to financial and insurance industry with high credit ratings.
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Details of the Group’s credit risk concentration of due from financial institutions, securities, excluding equity securities, and derivative financial instruments by country, as of December 31, 2018, is as follows:
France
Singapore
4.3 Liquidity Risk
4.3.1 Overview of liquidity risk
Liquidity risk is a risk that the Group becomes insolvent due to uncertain liquidity caused by unexpected cash outflows, or a risk of borrowing high interest debts or disposal of liquid and other assets at a substantial discount. The Group manages its liquidity risk through analysis of the contractual maturity of interest-bearing assets and liabilities, assets and liabilities related to the other financing, and off-balance sheet items related to cash flow of currency derivative instruments and others.
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Cash flows disclosed for the maturity analysis are undiscounted contractual principal and interest to be received (paid) and; thus, are not identical to the amount in the financial statements that are based on the present value of expected cash flows in some cases. The amount of interest to be received or paid on floating rate assets and liabilities is measured on the assumption that the current interest rate would be the same through the maturity.
4.3.2. Liquidity Risk Management and Indicator
The liquidity risk is managed by risk management policy and liquidity risk management guidelines which are applied to the risk management policies and procedures that address all the possible risks that arise from the overall business of the Group.
The Group computes and manages cumulative liquidity gap and liquidity rate subject to all transactions that affect cash flow in Korean won and foreign currencies and off-balance sheet transactions in relation to the liquidity. The Group regularly reports to the Risk Planning Council and Risk Management Committee.
4.3.3. Analysis of Remaining Contractual Maturity of Financial Assets and Liabilities
Cash flows disclosed below are undiscounted contractual principal and interest to be received (paid) and; thus, are not identical to the amount in the consolidated financial statements that are based on the present value of expected cash flows. The amount of interest to be received or paid on floating rate assets and liabilities is measured on the assumption that the current interest rate would be the same through the maturity.
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The remaining contractual maturity of financial assets and liabilities, excluding derivatives held for cash flow hedging, as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Cash and due from financial institutions1
Financial assets held for trading2
Financial assets designated at fair value through profit or loss2
Derivatives held for trading2
Derivatives held for hedging3
Available-for-sale financial assets4
Financial liabilities
Financial liabilities held for trading2
Financial liabilities designated at fair value through profit or loss2
Deposits5
Other financial liabilities
Off- balance sheet items
Commitments6
Financial guarantee contract7
The amounts of ￦10,669,956 million, which are restricted due from the financial institutions as of December 31, 2017, is excluded.
Financial assets/liabilities held for trading, financial assets/liabilities designated at fair value through profit or loss and derivatives held for trading are not managed by contractual maturity because they are expected to be traded or redeemed before maturity. Therefore, the carrying amounts of those financial instruments are classified as ‘on demand’ category. However, the cash flows of the embedded derivatives (e.g. conversion options and others) which are separated from their host contracts in accordance with the requirement of IAS 39, are considered in the cash flows of the host contracts.
Cash flows of derivative instruments held for fair value hedging are shown at net cash flow by remaining contractual maturity.
The equity securities amongavailable-for-sale financial assets are included under the ‘On demand’ category as they can be disposed without difficulty. However, the equity securities restricted from disposal are included on the category that the releasing date of restriction is belonged to.
Deposits that are contractually repayable on demand or on short notice are classified under the ‘on demand’ category.
Commitments are included under the ‘on demand’ category because payments will be made upon request.
The financial guarantee contracts are included under the ‘on demand’ category as payments will be made upon request.
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Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss2
Derivatives held for fair value hedging3
Financial investments4
Financial assets measured at fair value through other comprehensive income
Financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss2
The amounts of ￦ 12,394,461 million, which is restricted due from the financial institutions as of December 31, 2018, is excluded.
Financial liabilities measured or designated at fair value through profit or loss and derivatives held for trading are not managed by contractual maturity because they are expected to be traded or redeemed before maturity. Therefore, the carrying amounts of those financial instruments are classified as ‘on demand’ category.
Cash flows of derivative instruments held for hedging are shown at net cash flow by remaining contractual maturity.
The equity securities designated as financial assets measured at fair value through other comprehensive income are included under the ‘On demand’ category as they can be disposed without difficulty. However, the equity securities restricted from disposal are included on the category that the releasing date of restriction is belonged to.
Commitments are included under the ‘On demand’ category because payments will be made upon request.
The financial guarantee contracts are included under the ‘On demand’ category as payments will be made upon request.
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The contractual cash flows of derivatives held for cash flow hedging as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Net cash flow of net settlement derivatives
Cash flow to be received of total settlement derivatives
Cash flow to be paid of total settlement derivatives
4.4 Market Risk
4.4.1 Concept
Market risk represents possible losses which arise from changes in market factors including interest rate, stock price, foreign exchange rate and other market factors that affect the fair value or future cash flows of financial instruments including securities and derivatives amongst others. The most significant risk associated with trading positions interest rate risks, currency risks and also, stock price risks. In addition, the Group is exposed to interest rate risks associated with non-trading positions. The Group classifies exposures to market risk into either trading or non-trading positions. The Group measures and manages market risk separately for each subsidiary.
4.4.2 Risk management
The Group sets internal capital limits for market risk and interest rate risk and monitors the risks to manage the risk of trading and non-trading positions. The Group maintains risk management systems and procedures including trading policies and procedures, and market risk management guidelines for trading positions, and interest rate risk management guidelines for non-trading positions in order to manage market risk efficiently. The procedures mentioned are implemented with approval from the Risk Management Committee and Risk Management Council.
Kookmin Bank, one of the subsidiaries, establishes market risk management policy, sets position limits, loss limits and VaR limits of each business group and approves newly developed instruments through its Risk Management Council. The Market Risk Management Committee, which is chaired by the Chief Risk Officer (CRO), is the decision maker and sets position limits, loss limits, VaR limits, sensitivity limits and scenario loss limits for each division, at the level of each individual business department.
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The Asset-Liability Management Committee(ALCO) of Kookmin Bank determines the operational standards of interest and commission, the details of the establishment and prosecution of the Asset Liability Management (ALM) policies and enacts and amends relevant guidelines. The Risk Management Committee and Risk Management Council monitor the establishment and enforcement of ALM risk management policies, and enact and amend ALM risk management guidelines. The interest rate risk limit is set based on the future assets/liabilities position and interest rate volatility estimation reflects the annual work plan. The Financial Planning Department and Risk Management Department measures and monitors the interest risk status and limits on a regular basis. The status and limits of interest rate risks including interest gap, duration gap and interest rate VaR (Value at Risk), are reported to the ALCO and Risk Management Council on a monthly basis and to the Risk Management Committee on a quarterly basis. To ensure adequacy of interest rate and liquidity risk management, the Risk Management Department assigns the limits, monitors and reviews the risk management procedures and tasks conducted by the Financial Planning Department. Also, the Risk Management Department independently reports related information to the management.
4.4.3 Trading Position
Definition of a trading position
Trading positions subject to market risk management are defined under the Trading Policy and Guideline, and the basic requirements are as follows:
The trading position is not restricted for sale, is measured daily at fair value, and its significant inherent risks are able to be hedged in the market.
The criteria for classification as a trading position are clearly defined in the Trading Policy and Guideline, and separately managed by the trading department.
The trading position is operated in accordance with the documented trading strategy and managed through position limits.
The operating department or professional dealers have an authority to enforce a deal on the trading position within predetermined limits without pre-approval.
The trading position is reported periodically to management for the purpose of the Group’s risk management
Observation method on market risk arising from trading positions
Subsidiaries of the Group calculate VaR to measure the market risk by using market risk management systems on the entire trading portfolio. Generally, the Group manages market risk on the trading portfolio. In addition, the Group controls and manages the risk of derivative trading based on the regulations and guidelines formulated by the Financial Supervisory Service.
VaR (Value at Risk)
i. VaR (Value at Risk)
Kookmin Bank, one of the subsidiaries, uses the value-at-riskmethodology to measure the market risk of trading positions. Kookmin Bank uses the 10-day VaR, which estimates the maximum amount of loss that could occur in ten days under an historical simulation model which is considered to be a full valuation method. The distributions of portfolio’s value changes are estimated based on the data over the previous 250 business days, and ten-day VaR is calculated by subtracting net present market value from the value measured at a 99% confident level of portfolio’s value distribution results.
VaR is a commonly used market risk measurement technique. However, the method has some shortcomings. VaR estimates possible losses over a certain period at a particular confidence level using past market movement
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data. Past market movements are, however, not necessarily a good indicator of future events, as there may be conditions and circumstances in the future that the model does not anticipate. As a result, the timing and magnitude of the actual losses may vary depending on the assumptions made at the time of the calculation. In addition, the time periods used for the model, generally one or ten days, are assumed to be a sufficient holding period before liquidating the relevant underlying positions. If these holding periods are not sufficient, or too long, the VaR results may understate or overstate the potential loss.
A subsidiary which hold trading positions uses an internal model (VaR) to measure general risk, and a standard method to measure each individual risk. When the internal model is not permitted for certain market risk, the Group uses the standard method. Therefore, the market risk VaR may not reflect the market risk of each individual risk and some specific positions. And also, non-banking subsidiaries use the same standard method applied to measure regulatory capital for improvement of market risk VaR management utility (improvement of relation with regulatory capital).
ii. Back-Testing
Back-testing is conducted on a daily basis to validate the adequacy of the market risk model. In back-testing, the Group compares both the actual and hypothetical profit and loss with the VaR calculations.
iii. Stress Testing
Stress testing is carried out to analyze the impact of abnormal market situations on the trading and available-for-sale portfolio. It reflects changes in interest rates, stock prices, foreign exchange rates, implied volatilities of derivatives and other risk factors that have significant influence on the value of the portfolio. The Group uses historical scenarios and hypothetical scenarios for the analysis of abnormal market situations. Stress testing is performed at least once every year.
VaR at a 99% confidence level of interest rate, stock price and foreign exchange rate risk for trading positions with a ten-day holding period by a subsidiary as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Interest rate risk
Foreign exchange rate risk
Deduction of diversification effect
Total VaR
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Meanwhile, the required equity capital using the standardized method related to the positions which are not measured by VaR or the non-banking subsidiaries as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Commodity risk
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Details of risk factors
i. Interest rate risk
Trading position interest rate risk usually arises from debt securities denominated in Korean won. The Group’s trading strategy is to benefit from short-term movements in the prices of debt securities arising from changes in interest rates. The Group manages interest rate risk on trading positions using market value-based tools such as VaR and sensitivity analysis (Price Value of a Basis Point: PVBP).
ii. Stock price risk
Stock price risk only arises from trading securities denominated in Korean won as the Group does not have any trading exposure to shares denominated in foreign currencies. The trading securities portfolio in Korean won are composed of exchange-traded stocks and derivative instruments linked to stock with strict limits on diversification.
iii. Foreign exchange rate risk
Foreign exchange rate risk arises from holding assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currency and foreign currency derivatives. Net foreign currency exposure mostly occurs from the foreign assets and liabilities which are denominated in US dollars and Chinese Yuan. The Group sets both loss limits and net foreign currency exposure limits and manages comprehensive net foreign exchange exposures which consider both trading and non-trading portfolios.
4.4.4 Non-trading position
Definition of non-trading position
Managed interest rate risk in non-trading position includes on-or off-balance sheet assets, liabilities and derivatives that are sensitive to interest rate, except trading position for market risk. The interest rate sensitive assets and liabilities are interest-bearing assets and liabilities that create interest income and expenses.
Observation method on market risk arising fromnon-trading position
Interest rate risk occurs due to mismatches on maturities and interest rate reset periods between interest-bearing assets and liabilities. The Group manages the risk through measuring and managing interest rate VaR and earning at risk (EaR) that are maximum expected decreases in net asset value (NPV) and net interest income (NII) for one year, respectively, arising from unfavorable changes in market interest rate.
Interest Rate VaR
Interest rate VaR is the maximum possible loss due to interest rate risk under a normal distribution at a 99.9% confidence level. The measurement results of risk as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
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4.4.5 Financial Instruments in Foreign Currencies
Details of financial instruments presented in foreign currencies translated into Korean won as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Financial Assets
Derivatives held for trading
Derivatives held for hedging
Financial liabilities designated at fair value through profit or loss
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4.5 Operational Risk
4.5.1 Concept
The Group defines operational risk broadly to include all financial and non-financial risks that may arise from operating activities and could cause a negative effect on capital.
4.5.2 Risk Management
The purpose of operational risk management is not only to comply with supervisory and regulatory requirements but also to promote a risk management culture, strengthen internal controls, innovate processes and provide timely feedback to management and employees. In addition, Kookmin Bank established Business Continuity Plans (BCP) to ensure critical business functions can be maintained, or restored, in the event of material disruptions arising from internal or external events. It has constructed replacement facilities as well as has carried out exercise drills for head office and IT departments to test its BCPs.
4.6. Capital Adequacy
The Group complies with the capital adequacy standard established by the Financial Services Commission. The capital adequacy standard is based on Basel III published by Basel Committee on Banking Supervision in Bank of International Settlements in June 2011, and was implemented in Korea in December 2013. The Group is required to maintain a minimum Common Equity Tier 1 ratio of at least 7.125%(2017: 6.250%), a minimum Tier 1 ratio of 8.625%(2017: 7.750%) and a minimum Total Regulatory Capital of 10.625%(2017: 9.75%) as of December 31, 2018.
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The Group’s equity capital is classified into three categories in accordance with the Supervisory Regulations and Detailed Supervisory Regulations on Financial Holding Companies:
Common Equity Tier 1 Capital: Common equity Tier 1 Capital represents the issued capital that takes the first and proportionately greatest share of any losses and represents the most subordinated claim in liquidation of the Group, and not repaid outside of liquidation. It includes common shares issued, capital surplus, retained earnings, non-controlling interests of consolidated subsidiaries, accumulated other comprehensive income, other capital surplus and others.
Additional Tier 1 Capital: Additional Tier 1 Capital includes (i) perpetual instruments issued by the Group that meet the criteria for inclusion in Additional Tier 1 capital, and (ii) stock surplus resulting from the issue of instruments included in Additional Tier 1 capital and others.
Tier 2 Capital: Tier 2 Capital represents the capital that takes the proportionate share of losses in the liquidation of the Group. Tier 2 Capital includes a fund raised by issuing subordinated debentures maturing in not less than five years that meet the criteria for inclusion in Additional Tier 2 capital, and the allowance for loan losses which are accumulated for assets classified as normal or precautionary as a result of classification of asset soundness in accordance with Regulation on Supervision of Financial Holding Companies and others.
Risk weighted asset means the inherent risks in the total assets held by the Group. The Group calculates risk weighted asset by each risk (credit risk, market risk, and operational risk) based on the Supervisory Regulations and Detailed Supervisory Regulations on Financial Holding Companies and uses it for BIS ratio calculation.
The Group assesses and monitors its adequacy of capital by using the internal assessment and management policy of the capital adequacy. The assessment of the capital adequacy is conducted by comparing available capital (actual amount of available capital) and internal capital (amount of capital enough to cover all significant risks under target credit rate set by the Group). The Group monitors the soundness of finance and provides risk adjusted basis for performance review using the assessment of the capital adequacy.
Internal Capital is the amount of capital to prevent the inability of payment due to unexpected loss in the future. The Group measures, allocates and monitors internal capital by risk type and subsidiaries.
The Risk Management Council of the Group determines the Group’s risk appetite and allocates internal capital by risk type and subsidiary. Each subsidiary efficiently operates its capital within a range of allocated internal capital. The Risk Management Department of the Group monitors the limit on internal capital and reports the results to management and the Risk Management Council. The Group maintains the adequacy of capital through proactive review and approval of the Risk Management Committee when the internal capital is expected to exceed the limits due to new business or business expansion.
Details of the Group’s capital adequacy calculation in line with Basel III requirements as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Equity Capital:
Tier 1 Capital
Common Equity Tier 1 Capital
Additional Tier 1 Capital
Tier 2 Capital
Risk-weighted assets:
Equity Capital (%):
Tier 1 Capital (%)
Common Equity Tier 1 Capital (%)
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5. Segment Information
5.1 Overall Segment Information and Business Segments
The Group classifies reporting segments based on the nature of the products and services provided, the type of customer, and the Group’s management organization.
Banking Business
Loans, deposit products and other related financial services to large, small and medium-sizedenterprises and SOHO (small office home office)s.
Loans, deposit products and other related financial services to individuals and households.
Other Banking Services
Securities Business
Investment banking, brokerage services and other supporting activities.
Non-life Insurance Business
The activities within this segment include property insurance and other supporting activities.
The activities within this segment include credit sale, cash service, card loan and other supporting activities.
Life Insurance Business
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Financial information by business segment for the year ended December 31, 2017, is as follows:
Operating revenues from external customers
Intra-segment operating revenues(expenses)
Insurance expenses
Net gains (losses) on financial assets/ liabilities at fair value through profit or loss
Provision (reversal) for credit losses
Net operating income (expense)
Net other non-operating income (expense)
Segment profits before income tax
Income tax benefit (expense)
Profit attributable to shareholders of the Parent Company
Profit attributable to non-controlling interests
Total assets1
Total liabilities1
Assets and liabilities of the reporting segments are amounts before intra-segment transaction adjustment.
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Financial information by business segment as of and for the year ended December 31, 2018, is as follows:
Intra-segment operating revenues (expenses)
Net fee and commission income (expense)
Net insurance income (expense)
Net gains (losses) on financial instruments at fair value through profit or loss
Reversal (provision) for credit losses
Profit for the reporting period
Profit (loss) attributable to non-controllinginterests
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5.2 Services and Geographical Segments
5.2.1 Services information
Operating revenues from external customers for each service for the year ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Banking service
Securities service
Non-life insurance service
Credit card service
Life insurance service
Other service
5.2.2 Geographical information
Geographical operating revenues from external customers for the year ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018, and major non-current assets as of December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
New Zealand
Cambodia
United Kingdom
Intra-group adjustment
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6. Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities
6.1 Classification and Fair Value of Financial Instruments
6.1.1 Carrying amount and fair value of financial assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Financial liabilities held for trading
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The fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an ordinary transaction between market participants. For each class of financial assets and financial liabilities, the Group discloses the fair value of that class of assets and liabilities in a way that permits it to be compared with its carrying amount at the end of each reporting period. The best evidence of fair value of financial instruments is a quoted price in an active market.
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Methods of determining fair value for financial instruments are as follows:
Investment securities
Derivatives and Financial instruments at fair value through profit or loss
Other financial assets and liabilities
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6.1.2 Fair value hierarchy
The Group believes that valuation methods used for measuring the fair values of financial instruments are reasonable and that the fair values recognized in the statements of financial position are appropriate. However, the fair values of the financial instruments recognized in the statements of financial position may be different if other valuation methods or assumptions are used. Additionally, as there is a variety of valuation techniques and assumptions used in measuring fair value, it may be difficult to reasonably compare the fair value with that of other financial institutions.
The Group classifies and discloses fair value of the financial instruments into the three-level hierarchy as follows:
Level 1: The fair values are based on quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the entity can access at the measurement date.
Level 2: The fair values are based on inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly.
Level 3: The fair values are based on unobservable inputs for the asset or liability
The level in the fair value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement is categorized in its entirety shall be determined on the basis of the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. For this purpose, the significance of an input is assessed against the fair value measurement in its entirety. If a fair value measurement uses observable inputs that require significant adjustment based on unobservable inputs, that measurement is a Level 3 measurement.
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Fair value hierarchy of financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value in the statements of financial position
The fair value hierarchy of financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value in the statements of financial position as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, is as follows:
Available-for-salefinancial assets1
The amounts of equity securities carried at cost in “Level 3”, which do not have a quoted market price in an active market and cannot be measured reliably at fair value, are ¥ 116,629 as of December 31, 2017. These equity securities are carried at cost because it is practically difficult to quantify the intrinsic values of the equity securities issued by unlisted public and non-profit entities. In addition, due to significant fluctuations in estimated cash flows arising from entities being in its initial stages, which further results in varying and unpredictable probabilities, unlisted equity securities issued by project financing cannot be reliably and reasonably assessed. Therefore, these equity securities are carried at cost. The Group has no plan to sell these instruments in the near future.
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Valuation techniques and the inputs used in the fair value measurement classified as Level 2
Financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value classified as Level 2 in the statements of financial position as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Valuation techniques
Inputs
DCF Model, option model
Underlying asset Index, Discount rate, Volatility
DCF Model, Net Asset Value, Option Model
Underlying asset Index, Volatility, Discount rate, Fair value of underlying asset
DCF Model, Hull and White Model,
Discount rate, Volatility
DCF Model, Closed Form, Monte Carlo Simulation, Option Model
DCF Model, Closed Form, FDM, Monte Carlo Simulation, Black-Scholes Model, Hull and White Model and Others
Underlying asset Index, Discount rate, Volatility, Foreign exchange rate, Stock price, Dividend rate and others
DCF Model, Closed Form, FDM
Discount rate, Volatility, Foreign exchange rate and others
DCF Model, option model, Net Asset Value
Discount rate
DCF Model, Option Model, Net Asset Value
Discount rate, Fair value of underlying asset
DCF Model, Closed Form, FDM, Monte Carlo Simulation, Black-Scholes Model, Hull and White Model and others
Price of Underlying asset, Discount rate, Dividend rate, Volatility
DCF Model, Closed Form, FDM, Monte Carlo Simulation, Black-Scholes Model, Hull and White Model, Option Valuation Model and others
Discount rate, Price of Underlying asset , Volatility, Foreign exchange rate, Credit Spread, Stock price and others
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One factor Hull-White Model, DCF Model
Discount rate, Volatility and others
DCF Model, Closed Form, Monte Carlo Simulation, Black-Scholes Model, Hull and White Model, Net Asset Value and others
Projected cash flow, Fair value of underlying asset, Dividend yield, Interest rate, Underlying asset price, Discount rate, Volatility and others
DCF Model
Interest rate, Discount rate and others
DCF Model, FDM, Closed Form, Option Model, Monte Carlo Simulation, Black-Scholes Model, Hull and White Model and others
Discount rate, Volatility, Foreign exchange rate and Others
DCF Model, Option model, Market value approach
Discount rate, Underlying asset Index, Volatility, Interest rate and others
DCF Model, Black-Scholes Model
Discount rate, Volatility, Price of Underlying asset and others
1,629,530
DCF Model, Closed Form, Monte Carlo Simulation, Black-Scholes Model, Hull and White Model and others
DCF Model, Closed Form, FDM and others
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Fair value hierarchy of financial assets and liabilities whose fair values are disclosed
The fair value hierarchy of financial assets and liabilities whose fair values are disclosed as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Deposits1
Debts3
Other financial liabilities4
The amounts included in Level 2 are the carrying amounts which are reasonable approximations of the fair values.
Other financial assets of ￦ 10,195,015 million included in Level 3 are the carrying amounts which are reasonable approximation of fair values as of December 31, 2017.
Debts of ￦ 19,820 million included in Level 2 is the carrying amounts which are reasonable approximation of fair values as of December 31, 2017.
Other financial liabilities of ￦ 17,882,909 million included in Level 3 is the carrying amounts which are reasonable approximation of fair values as of December 31, 2017.
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Other financial assets of ￦ 8,133,556 million included in Level 3 are the carrying amounts which are reasonable approximation of fair values as of December 31, 2018.
Debts of ￦ 38,403 million included in Level 2 is the carrying amounts which are reasonable approximation of fair values as of December 31, 2018.
Other financial liabilities of ￦ 19,250,252 million included in Level 3 is the carrying amounts which are reasonable approximations of fair values as of December 31, 2018.
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Valuation techniques and the inputs used in the fair value measurement
Financial assets and liabilities whose carrying amount is a reasonable approximation of fair value are not subject to disclose valuation techniques and inputs.
Valuation techniques and inputs of financial assets and liabilities whose fair values are disclosed and classified as Level 2 as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Valuation techniques and inputs of financial assets and liabilities whose fair values are disclosed and classified as Level 3 as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Valuationtechnique
￦
1,769,347
Credit spread, Other spread, Interest rates
Credit spread, Other spread, Early termination ratio, Interest rates
Interest rates
Other spread, Early termination ratio, Interest rates
Other spread, Interest rates
Other spread, Implied default probability, Interest rates
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2,300,046
Other spread, Interest rates, Early termination ratio
6.2 Level 3 of the Fair Value Hierarchy Disclosure
6.2.1 Valuation policy and process for fair value measurement categorized within Level 3
The Group uses external, independent and qualified third-party valuation service in addition to internal valuation models to determine the fair value of the Group’s assets at the end of every reporting period.
Where a reclassification between the levels of the fair value hierarchy occurs for a financial asset or liability, the Group’s policy is to recognize such transfers as having occurred at the beginning of the reporting period.
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6.2.2 Changes in fair value (Level 3) measured using valuation technique based on unobservable in market
Details of changes in Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Beginning balance
Total gains or losses
—Profit or loss
—Other comprehensive income
Purchases
Sales
Issues
Settlements
Transfers into Level 31
Transfers out of Level 31
Business combination
Changes from replacement of assets Of disposal group as held for sale
Ending balance
The Changes in levels for the financial instruments occurred due to the change in the availability of observable market data.
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Beginning2
Ending
The changes in levels for the financial instruments occurred due to the change in the availability of observable market data.
Prepared in accordance with IFRS 9.
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In relation to changes in Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy, total gains or losses recognized in profit or loss for the period, and total gains or losses for the period included in profit or loss for financial instruments held at the end of the reporting period in the statements of comprehensive income for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Total gains or losses included in profit or loss for the period
Total gains or losses for the period included in profit or loss for financial instruments held at the end of the reporting period
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6.2.3 Sensitivity Analysis of Changes in Unobservable Inputs
Information about fair value measurements using unobservable inputs as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Valuation technique
Unobservable inputs
Relationship of unobservable inputs tofair value
Stock and index
Currency, Interest rate and others
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Interest rate
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Cash and due from financial
institutions
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Currency, interest rate and others
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Sensitivity analysis of changes in unobservable inputs
Sensitivity analysis of financial instruments is performed to measure favorable and unfavorable changes in the fair value of financial instruments which are affected by the unobservable parameters, using a statistical technique. When the fair value is affected by more than two input parameters, the amounts represent the most favorable or most unfavorable Level 3 financial instruments subject to sensitivity analysis are (i) equity-related derivatives, currency-related derivatives and interest rate related derivatives whose fair value changes are recognized in profit or loss, (ii) financial liabilities designated at fair value through profit or loss, and (iii) due from financial institutions, debt securities, equity securities and loan receivables whose fair value changes are recognized in profit or loss or other comprehensive income. If overlay approach is applied in accordance with IFRS 4, changes in fair value of financial assets at fair value through profit or loss are recognized as other comprehensive income.
The results of the sensitivity analysis from changes in inputs are as follows:
Financial assets designated at fair value through profit or loss1
Debt securities3
Equity securities4
Financial liabilities designated at fair value through profit or loss1
Derivatives held for hedging2
For financial assets designated at fair value through profit or loss, the changes in fair value are calculated by shifting principal unobservable input parameters such as volatility of the underlying asset or correlation between underlying asset by ± 10%.
For stock and index-related derivatives, the changes in fair value are calculated by shifting principal unobservable input parameters such as the correlation of rates of return on stocks and the volatility of the underlying asset by ± 10%. For currency-related derivatives, the changes in fair value are calculated by shifting the unobservable input parameters, such as the loss given default ratio by ± 1%. For interest rate-related derivatives, the correlation of the interest rates or the volatility of the underlying asset is shifted by ± 10% to calculate the fair value changes.
For debt securities, the changes in fair value are calculated by shifting principal unobservable input parameters; such as, discount rate by ± 1%.
For equity securities, the changes in fair value are calculated by shifting principal unobservable input parameters such as correlation between growth rate (0~0.5%) and discount rate, liquidation value (-1~1%) and discount rate, or recovery rate of receivables’ acquisition cost (-1~1%). Sensitivity of fair values to unobservable parameters of private equity fund is practically impossible, but in the case of equity fund composed of real estates, the changes in fair value are calculated by shifting correlation between discount rate (-1~1%) and volatilities of real estate price (-1~1%).
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Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss1
Debt securities4
Equity securities3
Financial assets measured at fair value through other comprehensive income Equity securities3
For financial instruments at fair value through profit or loss, the changes in fair value are calculated by shifting principal unobservable input parameters such as volatility of the underlying asset or correlation between underlying asset by ± 10%.
For Derivatives financial instruments, the changes in fair value are calculated by shifting principal unobservable input parameters; such as, price of underlying asset, volatility of stock price, interest rate by ± 10% and the loss given default ratio, discount rate by ± 1%
For equity securities, the changes in fair value are calculated by shifting principal unobservable input parameters; such as, correlation between growth rate (0~2.2%) and discount rate, or liquidation value (-1~1%) and discount rate.
Sensitivity of fair values to unobservable parameters of private equity fund is practically impossible, but in the case of equity fund composed of real estates, the changes in fair value are calculated by shifting correlation between discount rate (-1~1%) and volatilities of real estate price (-1~1%).
6.2.4 Day One Gain or Loss
If the Group uses a valuation technique that incorporates data not obtained from observable markets for the fair value at initial recognition of financial instruments, there could be a difference between the transaction price and the amount determined using that valuation technique. In these circumstances, the fair value of financial instruments is recognized as the transaction price, and the difference is deferred and not recognized in profit or loss, and is amortized by using the straight-line method over the life of the financial instrument. When the fair value of the financial instruments is subsequently determined using observable market inputs, the remaining deferred amount is recognized in profit or loss.
The aggregate difference yet to be recognized in profit or loss at the beginning and end of the period and a reconciliation of changes in the balance of this difference for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
New transactions and others
Changes during the period
Balance at the end of the year
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6.3 Carrying Amounts of Financial Instruments by Category
Financial assets and liabilities are measured at fair value or amortized cost. The measurement methodology by categories of financial instruments is addressed at Note 3.
The carrying amounts of financial assets and liabilities by category as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
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F-97
6.4 Transfer of Financial Assets
Transferred financial assets that are derecognized in their entirety
The Group transferred loans and other financial assets that are derecognized in their entirety to SPEs (special purpose entity), while the maximum exposure to loss (carrying amount) from its continuing involvement in the derecognized financial assets as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Type of continuinginvolvement
Classification of financial
instruments
Discovery ABS Second Co., Ltd.
Subordinate debt
EAK ABS Second Co., Ltd.
FK1411 Co., Ltd.
AP 3B ABS Ltd.
AP 4D ABS Ltd.
Senior debt
Loans and receivables
In addition to the above, the recovered portion in excess of the consideration paid attributable to adjustments based on the agreement with the National Happiness Fund for non-performing loans amounts to ￦2,989 million as of December 31, 2017.
Classification of financialinstruments
AP 4D ABS Ltd.1
The recovered portion in excess of the consideration paid attributable to adjustments based on the agreement with the National Happiness Fund for non-performing loans amounts to ￦ 13,731 million as at December 31, 2018.
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Transferred financial assets that are not derecognized in their entirety
The Group securitized the loans and issued the asset-backed debentures. The senior debentures and related securitized assets as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
KB Kookmin Card Second Securitization Co., Ltd.1
KB Kookmin Card Third Securitization Co., Ltd.1
KB Kookmin Card Fourth Securitization Co., Ltd.1
KB Kookmin Card Fifth SecuritizationCo., Ltd.1
Wise Mobile Thirteenth Securitization Specialty2
Wise Mobile Fourteenth Securitization Specialty2
Wise Mobile Fifteenth Securitization Specialty2
Wise Mobile Sixteenth Securitization Specialty2
Wise Mobile Seventeenth Securitization Specialty2
Wise Mobile Eighteenth Securitization Specialty2
The Group has an obligation to early redeem the asset-backed debentures upon occurrence of an event specified in the agreement such as when the outstanding balance of the eligible asset-backed securitization (ABS), a trust-type ABS, is below the solvency margin ratio(minimum rate: 104.5%) of the beneficiary interest in the trust. To avoid such early redemption, the Group entrusts accounts and deposits in addition to the previously entrusted card accounts.
According to the liquidity facility agreement entered between the Special Purpose Companies (SPC) and Woori Bank and NH Bank, if the senior debentures cannot be redeemed by the underlying assets, the senior debentures should be redeemed by borrowings from the liquidity facilities.
The Group transferred the beneficiary certificates to Yuanta Securities at ￦ 74,853 million and entered into a total return swap contract. If the fair value of the transferred asset changes, the risk is attributed to the company in accordance with the contract. The details of transferred financial assets as of December 31, 2018 are as follows.
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Securities under repurchase agreements and loaned securities
The Group continues to recognize the financial assets related to repurchase agreements and securities lending transactions on the statements of financial position since those transactions are not qualified for derecognition even though the Group transfers the financial assets. A financial asset is sold under a repurchase agreement to repurchase the same asset at a fixed price, or loaned under a securities lending agreement to be returned as the same asset. Thus, the Group retains substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership of the financial asset. The amounts of transferred assets and related liabilities as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Repurchase agreements
Loaned securities
Government bond
Stock
Repurchase agreements1
The bonds sold under repurchase agreements amounts to ￦ 3,162,000 million.
6.5 Offsetting Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities
The Group enters into International Swaps and Derivatives Association (“ISDA”) master netting agreements and other similar arrangements with the Group’s derivative and spot exchange counterparties. Similar netting agreements are also entered into with the Group’s reverse repurchase, securities and others. Pursuant to these agreements, in the event of default by one party, contracts are to be terminated and receivables and payables are to be offset. Further, as the law allows for the right to offset, domestic uncollected receivables balances and domestic accrued liabilities balances are shown in its net settlement balance in the consolidated statement of financial position.
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Details of financial assets subject to offsetting, enforceable master netting arrangements or similar agreement as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Non-offsetting amount
Derivatives held for trading and Derivatives linked securities
Receivable spot exchange
Reverse repurchase agreements
Domestic exchange settlement debits
Other financial instruments
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Details of financial liabilities subject to offsetting, enforceable master netting arrangements or similar agreement as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Payable spot exchange
Securities borrowing agreements
Domestic exchange settlement credits
Includes repurchase agreements sold to customers.
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7. Due from Financial Institutions at Amortized Cost
Details of due from financial institutions as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Due from financial institutions in Korean won
Due from Bank of Korea
Standard Chartered Bank Korea Limited and others
Due from others
Korea Securities Finance Corporation and others
Due from financial institutions in foreign currencies
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. and others
Time deposits in foreign currencies
Bank of Shanghai, Beijing Branch and others
Societe Generale and others
Restricted cash from financial institutions as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Financial Institutions
Reason for restriction
Due from Banking institution
Bank of Korea and others
Bank NY Branch and others
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Changes in the allowances for due from financial institutions losses
Changes in the allowances for due from financial institutions losses for the year ended December 31, 2018, are as follows:
Beginning1
Transfer between stages
Transfer to lifetime expected credit losses
Impairment
Disposal
Provision (reversal) for loan losses
Others (change of currency ratio, etc.)
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8. Assets pledged as collateral
Details of assets pledged as collateral as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Assets pledged
Pledgee
Reason of pledge
Korea Federation of Savings Banks and others
Korea Securities Depository and others
Samsung Futures Inc. and others
Borrowings from Bank of Korea
Settlement risk of Bank of Korea
Derivatives transactions
Mortgage loans
Natixis Real Estate Capital LLC and others
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Financial assets measured at fair value through profit or loss
Securities at amortized cost
NATIXIS REAL ESTATE CAPITAL LLC and others
The Group provides ￦ 3,185,601 million and ￦ 6,472,993 million of its borrowing securities and securities held as collateral with KSFC and others as at December 31, 2017 and 2018.
The fair values of collateral available to sell or repledge, and collateral sold or repledged, regardless of debtor’s default, as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
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9. Derivative Financial Instruments and Hedge Accounting
The Group’s derivative operations focus on addressing the needs of the Group’s corporate clients to hedge their risk exposure and to hedge the Group’s risk exposure that results from such client contracts. The Group also engages in derivative trading activities to hedge the interest rate and foreign currency risk exposures that arise from the Group’s own assets and liabilities. In addition, the Group engages in proprietary trading of derivatives within the Group’s regulated open position limits.
The Group provides and trades a range of derivatives products, including:
Interest rate swaps, relating to interest rate risks in Korean won
Cross-currency swaps, forwards and options relating to foreign exchange rate risks,
Stock price index options linked with the KOSPI index.
In particular, the Group applies fair value hedge accounting using cross currency swaps, interest rate swaps and others to hedge the risk of changes in fair values due to the changes in interest rates and foreign exchange rates of structured debts in Korean won, financial debentures in foreign currencies, structured deposits in Korean won, and structured deposits in foreign currencies. In addition, the Group applies net investment hedge accounting by designating financial debentures in foreign currencies as hedging instruments to hedge foreign exchange risks on net investments in foreign operations.
Details of derivative financial instruments held for trading as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Futures1
Swaps
Options
Currency
Forwards
Credit
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Commodity
Gain or loss arising from futures daily settlement is reflected in the margin accounts.
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The average of hedge ratio for each type of hedge accounting as of December 31, 2018, is as follows:
Fair value hedge
The quantity of the hedging instrument
Average ratio of hedging
Cash flow hedge
Hedge of net investments in a foreign operations
Fair Value Hedge
Details of hedged item in fair value hedge as of December 31, 2018, are as follows:
Hedge accounting
Debt securities in KRW
Debt securities in foreign currencies
Deposits in foreign currencies
Debts in KRW
Debts in foreign currencies
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Details of derivative instruments designated as fair value hedge as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
The fair value of non-derivative financial instruments designated as hedging instruments is as follows:
Details of hedge ineffectiveness recognized in profit or loss from derivatives for the year ended December 31, 2018, is as follows:
From hedge accounting
Currency rate
Gains and losses from fair value hedging instruments and hedged items attributable to the hedged risk for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Gains(losses) on hedging instruments
Gains(losses) on the hedged items attributable to the hedged risk
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Cash Flow Hedge
Details of hedged item in cash flow hedge as of December 31, 2018 are as follows:
Foreign currency change risk
Details of derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedge as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Gains and losses from hedging instruments and hedged items attributable to the hedged risk for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Gains (losses) on hedging instruments
Gains (losses) on effectiveness (amount recognized in other comprehensive income)
Gains on ineffectiveness (amount recognized in profit or loss)
F-111
Amounts recognized in other comprehensive income and reclassified from equity to profit or loss for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Amount recognized in other comprehensive income
Amount reclassified from equity to profit or loss
Tax effect
OCI after tax
Hedge on Net Investments in Foreign Operations
Details of hedged item in hedge on foreign operation net investments hedge as of December 31, 2018, are as follows:
Currency (foreign currency change risk)
Details of financial instruments designated as hedging instrument in hedge on net investments in foreign operations as of December 31, 2018, is as follows:
Financial debentures in foreign currencies
Details of derivative instruments designated as hedging instrument in hedge on net investments in foreign operations as of December 31, 2017, is as follows:
The fair value of non-derivative financial instruments designated as hedging instruments as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
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Gain or loss from hedging instruments in hedge of net investments in foreign operations and hedged items attributable to the hedged risk for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Effective portion of gains (losses) on hedges of net investments in foreign operations (amount recognized in other comprehensive income)
Ineffective portion of gains (losses) on hedges of net investments in foreign operations (amount recognized in profit or loss)
The effective portion of gain (loss) on hedging instruments recognized in other comprehensive income for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Amount recognized in other comprehensive income, net of tax
10. Loans at Amortized Cost
Details of loans as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Deferred loan origination fees and costs
Less: Allowances for loan losses
Details of loans for other banks as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
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Details of loan types and customer types of loans to customers, other than banks, as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Loans in Korean won
Bills bought in Korean won
Credit card receivables in Korean won
Proportion (%)
Less: Allowances
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The changes in deferred loan origination fees and costs for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Deferred loan origination costs
Other origination costs
Deferred loan origination fees
Other origination fees
11. Allowances for Loan Losses
Changes in the allowances for loan losses for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Beginning
Written-off
Recoveries from written-off loans
Sale and repurchase
Provision1
Other changes
Provision for credit losses in statements of comprehensive income also includes provision for unused commitments and guarantees (Note 23), provision (reversal) for financial guarantees contracts (Note 23), and provision (reversal) for other financial assets (Note 18).
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Write-offs
Provision (reversal) for loan losses1,3
Provision for credit losses in statements of comprehensive income also includes provision (reversal) for due from financial institutions (Note 7), and provision (reversal) for securities (Note 12), provision for unused commitments and guarantees (Note 23), provision (reversal) for financial guarantees contracts (Note 23), and provision (reversal) for other financial assets (Note 18).
Recovery of written-off loans amounting to ￦ 428,890 million is included
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The Group manages the written-off loans that their extinctive prescription did not occur, and that are not collected; the balance of those are ￦ 12,067,272 million as of December 31, 2018.
Changes in the book value of loans at amortized cost for the year ended December 31, 2018, are as follows:
Net increase(decrease)
(Execution, repayment and others)
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12. Financial Assets at Fair Value through Profit or Loss and Financial Investments
Details of financial assets at fair value through profit or loss and financial investments as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Debt securities:
Government and public bonds
Financial bonds
Corporate bonds
Equity securities:
Stocks and others
Beneficiary certificates
Equity investments and others
Debts securities:
Total financial investments
F-118
(In millions of
Korean won)
Derivatives linked securities
Other debt securities
Private placed corporate bonds
Other loans
Due from financial institutions:
Other due from financial institutions
Financial Investments
Allowance
F-119
Dividend incomes from the equity securities measured at fair value through other comprehensive income for the year ended December 31, 2018, are as follows:
Equity securities at fair value through other comprehensive income
The derecognized equity securities, measured at fair value through other comprehensive income for the year ended December 31, 2018, is as follows:
Provision, and reversal for the allowance of financial investments for the year ended December 31, 2018, are as follows:
The impairment losses and the reversal of impairment losses in financial investments for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2017, are as follows:
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Changes in the allowances for debt securities for the year ended December 31, 2018, are as follows:
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13. Investments in Associates and Joint Ventures
Investments in associates and joint ventures as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Associates and Joint ventures
KB Pre IPO Secondary Venture Fund 1st1
KB GwS Private Securities Investment Trust
KB-KDBC New Technology Business Fund8
KB Star office Private real estate Investment Trust No.1
Sun Surgery Center Inc.
Dae-A Leisure Co., Ltd.6
Doosung Metal Co., Ltd.6
RAND Bio Science Co., Ltd.
Balhae Infrastructure Company1
Bungaejangter Inc.13
Aju Good Technology Venture Fund
Acts Co., Ltd.10
SY Auto Capital Co., Ltd.
Wise Asset Management Co., Ltd.7
Incheon Bridge Co., Ltd.1
Jungdong Steel Co., Ltd.6
Kendae Co., Ltd.6
Daesang Techlon Co., Ltd.6
Dongjo Co., Ltd.6
Dpaps Co., Ltd.6
Big Dipper Co., Ltd.
Builton Co., Ltd.
Shinla Construction Co., Ltd.6
Shinhwa Underwear Co., Ltd.6
A-PRO Co., Ltd.1
MJT&I Co., Ltd.6
Inno Lending Co., Ltd.1
Jaeyang Industry Co., Ltd.6
Jungdo Co., Ltd.6
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Jinseung Tech Co., Ltd.6
Terra Co., Ltd.6
Paycoms Co., Ltd.9
Food Factory Co., Ltd.11
Korea NM Tech Co., Ltd.6
KB IGen Private Equity Fund No.11
KB No.8 Special Purpose Acquisition Company1,2
KB No.9 Special Purpose Acquisition Company1,3
KB No.10 Special Purpose Acquisition Company1,4
KB No.11 Special Purpose Acquisition Company1,5
KB Private Equity FundIII1
Korea Credit Bureau Co., Ltd.1
KoFC KBIC Frontier Champ 2010-5(PEF)
KoFC POSCO HANHWA KB shared growth Private Equity Fund No.2
Keystone-Hyundai Securities No. 1 Private Equity Fund1
POSCO-KB Shipbuilding Fund
Hyundai-Tongyang Agrifood Private Equity Fund
Associates and Joint ventures14
PT Bank Bukopin TBK15, 16
Doosung Metal Co., Ltd 6
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Builton Co., Ltd.12
KB No.9 Special Purpose Acquisition Company1
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GH Real Estate I LP
KBTS Technology Venture Private Equity Fund8
KB-Brain KOSDAQScale-up New Technology Business Investment Fund8
KB-SJ Tourism Venture Fund1,8
UNION Media Commerce Fund
CHONG IL MACHINE & TOOLS CO., LTD.6
IMT TECHNOLOGY CO.,LTD.6
IWON ALLOY CO., LTD.6
CARLIFE CO., LTD.6
COMPUTERLIFE CO., LTD.6
SKYDIGITAL INC.6
JO YANG INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.6
As of December 31, 2017 and 2018, the Group is represented on the governing bodies of its associates. Therefore, the Group has a significant influence over the decision-making process relating to their financial and business policies.
The market value of KB No.8 Special Purpose Acquisition Company, reflecting the quoted market price as of December 31, 2017, amounts to ￦ 20 million.
The market value of KB No.9 Special Purpose Acquisition Company, reflecting the quoted market price as of December 31, 2017, amounts to ￦ 31 million.
The market value of KB No.10 Special Purpose Acquisition Company, reflecting the quoted market price as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, amounts to ￦ 20 million and ￦ 20 million, respectively.
The market value of KB No.11 Special Purpose Acquisition Company, reflecting the quoted market price as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, amounts to ￦ 20 million and ￦ 21 million, respectively.
The investment in associates was reclassified from available-for-sale financial assets due to re-instated voting rights from termination of rehabilitation procedures.
Carrying amount of the investment has been recognized as a loss from the date Hyundai Securities Co., Ltd. was included in the consolidation scope.
In order to direct relevant activities, it is necessary to obtain the consent of the two co-operative members; the Group has applied the equity method as the Group cannot control the investee by itself.
The ownership of Paycoms Co., Ltd. would be 24.06% and 22.96% as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, respectively, considering the potential voting rights from convertible bond.
The ownership of Acts Co., Ltd. would be 27.78 % and 27.22% as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, respectively, considering the potential voting rights from convertible bond. .
The ownership of Food Factory Co., Ltd. would be 30.00% and 30.00% as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, respectively, considering the potential voting rights from convertible bond. .
The ownership of Builton Co., Ltd. would be 26.86% as of December 31, 2018, considering the potential voting rights from convertible bond.
The ownership of Bungaejangter Inc. would be 22.69% as of December 31, 2017, considering the potential voting rights from convertible bond.
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In accordance with IAS 28 Investments in Associates and Joint Ventures, application of the equity method is exempted, and the Group designates its investments in JLK INSPECTION Inc., Rainist Co., Ltd., TESTIAN Inc., Spark Biopharma, Inc., RMGP Bio-Pharma Investment Fund, L.P., RMGPBio-Pharma Investment, L.P., HEYBIT, Inc., Hasys., Stratio, Inc.
The Group has entered into an agreement with PT Bosowa Corporindo, the major shareholder of PT Bank Bukopin TBK. Under this agreement, the Group has a right of first refusal, a tag-along right and a drag-along right. The drag-along right can be exercised for the duration of two years after three years from the acquisition date, subject to the occurrence of certain situations as defined in the agreement.
The fair value of PT Bank Bukopin TBK common stock is ￦ 53,540 million as of December 31, 2018.
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Summarized financial information on major associates, adjustments to carrying amount of investment in associates and joint ventures and dividends received from the associates and joint ventures are as follows:
KB Pre IPO Secondary Venture Fund 1st
KB-KDBC New Technology Business Investment Fund
Sun Surgery Center Inc
Balhae Infrastructure Company
Bungaejangter Inc.
Acts Co., Ltd.
Incheon Bridge Co., Ltd.
A-PRO Co., Ltd.
Inno Lending Co., Ltd.
Paycoms Co., Ltd.
Food Factory Co., Ltd.
KB IGen Private Equity Fund No. 1
KB No.8 Special Purpose Acquisition Company
KB No.9 Special Purpose Acquisition Company
KB No.10 Special Purpose Acquisition Company
KB No.11 Special Purpose Acquisition Company
KB Private Equity Fund III
Korea Credit Bureau Co., Ltd.
KoFC POSCO HANHWA KB shared growth Private Equity Fund No. 2
Keystone-Hyundai Securities No. 1 Private Equity Fund
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F-128
PT Bank Bukopin TBK2
KB Private Equity FundIII
KBTS Technology Venture Private Equity Fund
KB-Brain KOSDAQScale-up New Technology Business Investment Fund
KB-SJ Tourism Venture Fund
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PT Bank Bukopin TBK
The amounts included in the financial statements of the associates and joint ventures are adjusted to reflect adjustments made by the entity; such as, fair value adjustments made at the time of acquisition and adjustments for differences in accounting policies.
The amounts of goodwill on PT Bank Bukopin TBK is ￦4,101 million.
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Changes in investments in associates and joint ventures for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Kyobo 7 Special Purpose Acquisition Co., Ltd.
Bungaejanter Inc.
IMM Investment 5th PRIVATE EQUITY FUND
isMedia Co. Ltd
KB Insurance Co., Ltd.1
Kendae Co., Ltd.
Shinhwa Underwear Co., Ltd.
MJT&I Co., Ltd.
Korbi Co., Ltd.
Terra Co., Ltd.
KBIC Private Equity Fund No. 3
KB No.11 Special Purpose Acquisition Company2
KB Insurance Co., Ltd. is included as a subsidiary in the second quarter of 2017.
Other gain of KB No.11 Special Purpose Acquisition Company amounting to ￦11 million represents the changes in interests due to unequal share capital increase in the associate.
Gain on disposal of investments in associates and joint ventures for year ended December 31, 2017, amounts to ￦15,113 million.
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Dae-A Leisure Co., Ltd.
Bungaejangter Inc.3
Acts Co., Ltd. 2
Dassang Techlon Co., Ltd.
Dong Jo Co., Ltd.
CUBE Growth Fund No.2
Prepared in accordance with IFRS 9
Recognized ￦500 million loss in relation to impaired capital.
The amount of reclassification as financial assets is ￦2,100 million.
Gain on disposal of investments in associates and joint ventures for the year ended December 31, 2018 is ￦4,250 million.
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Accumulated unrecognized share of losses in investments in associates and joint ventures due to discontinuation of applying the equity method for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Doosung Metal Co., Ltd
Jungdong Steel Co., Ltd.
Dpaps Co., Ltd.
Shinla Construction Co., Ltd.
Jaeyang Industry Co., Ltd.
Jungdo Co., Ltd.
Jinseung Tech Co., Ltd.
Korea NM Tech Co., Ltd.
Ejade Co., Ltd.
JSC Bank CenterCredit
14. Property and Equipment, and Investment Properties
Details of property and equipment as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Land
Construction in progress
Financial lease assets
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The changes in property and equipment for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Leasehold improvement
Construction in-progress
Including transfers with investment property and assets held for sale.
Including depreciation cost and others amounting to ￦157 million and ￦128 million recorded in other operating expenses in the statements of comprehensive income for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018, respectively.
The changes in accumulated impairment losses of property and equipment for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
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Details of investment property as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
The valuation technique and input variables that are used to measure the fair value of investment property as of December 31, 2018, are as follows:
Land and buildings
- Price per square meter
- Replacement cost
- Prospective rental market
growth rate
- Period of vacancy
- Rental rate
- Discount rate
and others
- Capitalization rate
- Vacancy rate
As of December 31, 2017 and 2018, fair values of the investment properties amount to ￦893,583 million and ￦2,287,012 million, respectively. The investment properties were measured by qualified independent appraisers with experience in valuing similar properties in the same area. In addition, per the fair value hierarchy on Note 6.1, the fair value hierarchy of all investment properties has been categorized and classified as Level 3.
Rental income from the above investment properties for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018, amounts to ￦59,259 million and ￦87,513 million, respectively.
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The changes in investment property for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
15. Intangible Assets
Details of intangible assets as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Goodwill
Other intangible assets
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Details of goodwill as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Housing & Commercial Bank
KB Cambodia Bank
KB Securities Co., Ltd.1
KB Securities Vietnam Joint Stock Company2
KB Daehan Specialized Bank PLC.
The amount occurred from formerly known as KB Investment & Securities Co., Ltd.
MARITIME SECURITIES INCORPORATION changed its name to KB Securities Vietnam joint stock company.
The changes in accumulated impairment losses of goodwill for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
The details of allocating goodwill to cash-generating units and related information for impairment testing as of December 31, 2018, are as follows:
Carrying amounts
Recoverable amount exceeded carrying amount
Discount rate (%)
Permanent growth rate (%)
Goodwill arisen from a business combination during 2018 has not been tested for impairment.
The amount occurred from formerly known as KB Investment&Securities Co., Ltd.
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Goodwill is allocated to cash-generating units, based on management’s analysis, that are expected to benefit from the synergies of the combination for impairment testing, and cash-generating units consist of an operating segment or units which are not larger than an operating segment. The Group recognized the amount of ￦65,288 million related to goodwill acquired in the merger of Housing & Commercial Bank. Of those respective amounts, the amounts of ￦49,315 million and ￦15,973 million were allocated to the Retail Banking and Corporate Banking, respectively. Cash-generating units to which goodwill has been allocated is tested for impairment annually, and whenever there is an indication that the unit may be impaired, by comparing the carrying amount of the unit, including the goodwill, with the recoverable amount of the unit.
The recoverable amount of a cash-generating unit is measured at the higher of its fair value less costs to sell and its value in use. The fair value less costs to sell is the amount obtainable from the sale in an arm’s length transaction between knowledgeable, willing parties, less the costs of disposal. If it is difficult to measure the amount obtainable from the sale, the Group measures the fair value less costs to sell by reflecting the characteristics of the measured cash-generating unit. If it is not possible to obtain reliable information to measure the fair value less costs to sell, the Group uses the asset’s value in use as its recoverable amount. Value in use is the present value of the future cash flows expected to be derived from an asset or cash-generating unit. The projections of the future cash flows are based on the most recent financial budget approved by management and generally cover a period of five years. The future cash flows after projection period are estimated on the assumption that the future cash flows will increase by 1.0% for all other cash-generating units. The key assumptions used for the estimation of the future cash flows are the market size and the Group’s market share. The discount rate is a pre-tax rate that reflects assumptions regarding risk-free interest rate, market risk premium and the risks specific to the asset for which the future cash flow estimates have not been adjusted.
Details of intangible assets, excluding goodwill, as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Value of Business Acquired (VOBA)
Finance leases assets
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The changes in intangible assets, excluding goodwill, for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Other intangible assets2
Including ￦179,809 million and ￦214,735 million recorded in insurance expenses and other operating expenses and others in the statements of comprehensive income for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018.
Impairment loss for membership right of other intangible asset with indefinite useful life was recognized when its recoverable amount is lower than its carrying amount, and reversal of impairment loss was recognized when its recoverable amount is higher than its carrying amount.
The changes in accumulated impairment losses on intangible assets for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Accumulated impairment losses on intangible assets
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From 2018, the Group is required to pay a fine only if the actual emission exceeds the targeted emission amount. Therefore, the emission rights (intangible asset) do not occur as long as it is below the targeted emission amount.
Changes in emissions rights for year ended December 31, 2017, are as follows:
Additional Allocation
Borrowing
Surrendered to government
Cancel
16. Deferred Income Tax Assets and Liabilities
Details of deferred income tax assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Other provisions
Impairment losses on property and equipment
Interest on equity index-linked deposits
Provisions for guarantees
Losses(gains) from valuation on derivative financial instruments
Present value discount
Losses(gains) from fair value hedged item
Accrued interest
Advanced depreciation provision
Gains from revaluation
Investments in subsidiaries and others
Gains on valuation of security investment
Defined benefit liabilities
Accrued expenses
Retirement insurance expense
Adjustments to the prepaid contributions
Offsetting of deferred income tax assets and liabilities
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Losses (gains) from valuation on derivative financial instruments
Losses (gains) from fair value hedged item
Unrecognized deferred income tax assets
No deferred income tax assets have been recognized for the deductible temporary difference of ￦73,764 million associated with investments in subsidiaries and others as of December 31, 2018, because it is not probable that the temporary differences will be reversed in the foreseeable future.
No deferred income tax assets have been recognized for deductible temporary differences of ￦120,704 million with others, as of December 31, 2018, due to the uncertainty that these will be realized in the future.
Unrecognized deferred income tax liabilities
No deferred income tax liabilities have been recognized for the taxable temporary difference of ￦62,367 million associated with investment in subsidiaries and associates as of December 31, 2018, due to the following reasons:
The Group is able to control the timing of the reversal of the temporary difference.
It is probable that the temporary difference will not be reversed in the foreseeable future.
No deferred income tax liabilities have been recognized as of December 31, 2018, for the taxable temporary difference of ￦65,288 million arising from the initial recognition of goodwill from the merger of Housing and Commercial Bank in 2001.
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The changes in cumulative temporary differences for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Deductible temporary differences
Gains(losses) from valuation on derivative financial instruments
Loss on SPE repurchase
Unrecognized deferred income tax assets:
Tax rate (%)1
Total deferred income tax assets from deductible temporary differences
Taxable temporary differences
advanced depreciation provision
Gains on revaluation
Total deferred income tax liabilities from taxable temporary differences
The corporate tax rate was changed due to the amendment of corporate tax law in 2017. Accordingly, the rate of 27.5% has been applied for the deferred tax assets and liabilities expected to be utilized in periods after December 31, 2017.
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Tax rate (%)
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17. Assets Held for Sale
Details of assets held for sale as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Land held for sale
Buildings held for sale
Acquisition cost of buildings held for sale is net of accumulated depreciation.
The valuation technique and input variables that are used to measure the fair value of assets held for sale as of December 31, 2018, are as follows:
Valuationtechnique1
Unobservable input2
Range ofunobservable inputs
(%)
Relationship ofunobservable inputs tofair value
Market comparison approach model and others
Fair value increases as the adjustment index rises.
Fair value decreases as the absolute value of adjustment index rises.
The Group adjusted the appraisal value by the adjustment ratio in the event the public sale is unsuccessful.
Adjustment index is calculated using the real estate index or the producer price index, or land price volatility.
The fair values of assets held for sale were measured by qualified independent appraisers with experience in valuing similar properties in the same area. In addition, per the fair value hierarchy on Note 6.1, the fair value hierarchy of all investment properties has been categorized and classified as Level 3.
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The changes in accumulated impairment losses of assets held for sale for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Including the amount related to the group of the assets disposed in 2017, which was classified as held for sale
As of December 31, 2018, assets held for sale consist of eight real estates of closed offices, which were committed to sell by the management, but not yet sold as of December 31, 2018. Negotiation with buyers is in process for the two assets and the remaining six assets are also being actively marketed.
18. Other Assets
Details of other assets as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Other receivables
Accrued income
Guarantee deposits
Allowances
Other non-financial assets
Prepaid expenses
Insurance assets
Separate account assets
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Changes in allowances for loan losses on other assets for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Provision
19. Financial Liabilities at Fair Value through Profit or Loss
Details of financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss, and financial liabilities designated at fair value through profit or loss as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Securities sold
Total financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss
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The difference between the carrying amount and contractual cash flow amount of financial liabilities designated at fair value through profit or loss as of December 31, 2018 is as follows:
Contractual cash flow amount
Difference
20. Deposits
Details of deposits as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Demand deposits in Korean won
Demand deposits in foreign currencies
Total demand deposits
Time deposits in Korean won
Fair value adjustments on valuation of fair value hedged items
Total time deposits
Certificates of deposits
Total deposits
21. Debts
Details of debts as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Repurchase agreements and others
Call money
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Details of borrowings as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Lender
Borrowings in Korean won
Borrowings from the Bank of Korea
Borrowings from the government
Borrowings from banks
Shinhan Bank and others
Borrowings from non-banking financial institutions
The Korea Development Bank and others
Other borrowings
Borrowings in foreign currencies
Commerzbank AG and Others
Central Bank of Uzbekistan and Others
Borrowings from other financial institutions
The Export-Import Bank of Korea and others
Standard Chartered Bank and others
The details of repurchase agreements and others as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Lenders
Individuals, Groups and Corporations
Bills sold
Counter sale
The details of call money as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Call money in Korean won
Deutsche Bank AG, Seoul and others
Call money in foreign currencies
Central Bank of Uzbekistan and others
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22. Debentures
Details of debentures as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Debentures in Korean won
Structured debentures
Subordinated fixed rate debentures in Korean won
Fixed rate debentures in Korean won
Floating rate debentures in Korean won
Fair value adjustments on fair value hedged financial debentures in Korean won
Less: Discount on debentures in Korean won
Debentures in foreign currencies
Floating rate debentures
Fixed rate debentures
Fair value adjustments on fair value hedged debentures in foreign currencies
Less: Discount on debentures in foreign currencies
Changes in debentures based on face value for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
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23. Provisions
Details of provisions as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Provisions for unused loan commitments
Provisions for payment guarantees
Provisions for financial guarantee contracts
Provisions for restoration cost
Changes in provisions for unused loan commitments, payment guarantees for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Effects of changes in foreign exchange rate
Reversal
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Transfer to lifetime expected credit losses (non-impaired)
Others (change of exchange rate, etc.)
Changes in provisions for financial guarantee contracts for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Changes in provisions for restoration cost for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Used
Unwinding of discount
Effects of changes in discount rate
Provisions for restoration cost are the present value of estimated costs to be incurred for the restoration of the leased properties. Actual expenses are expected to be incurred at the end of each lease contract. Three-year historical data of expired leases were used to estimate the average lease period. Also, the average restoration
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expense based on actual three-year historical data and the three-year historical average inflation rate were used to estimate the present value of estimated costs.
Changes in other provisions for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Increase
Decrease
Business Combination
As of December 31, 2017, the estimated greenhouse gas emission is 112,121 tons.
As of December 31, 2017, the group’s provision on incomplete sales on cardssurance are ￦26,926 million.
As of December 31, 2018, the Group’s provision on incomplete sales on cardssurance are ￦26,930 million.
24. Net Defined Benefit Liabilities (Assets)
Defined benefit plan
The Group operates defined benefit plans which have the following characteristics:
The Group has the obligation to pay the agreed benefits to all its current and former employees.
Actuarial risk (that benefits will cost more than expected) and investment risk fall, in substance, on the Group.
The defined benefit liability recognized in the statements of financial position is calculated by independent actuaries in accordance with actuarial valuation methods.
The net defined benefit obligation is calculated using the Projected Unit Credit method (the ‘PUC’). Data used in the PUC such as interest rates, future salary increase rate, mortality rate and consumer price index are based on observable market data and historical data which are updated annually.
Actuarial assumptions may differ from actual results, due to changes in the market, economic trends and mortality trends which may impact defined benefit liabilities and future payments. Actuarial gains and losses arising from changes in actuarial assumptions are recognized in the period incurred through other comprehensive income.
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Changes in the net defined benefit liabilities for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Current service cost
Past service cost
Interest cost (income)
Remeasurements:
Actuarial gains and losses by changes in demographic assumptions
Actuarial gains and losses by changes in financial assumptions
Actuarial gains and losses by experience adjustments
Return on plan assets (excluding amounts included in interest income)
Contributions:
The Group
Payments from plans (benefit payments)
Payments from the Group
Transfer in
Transfer out
Effect of exchange rate changes
Effect of business combination and disposal of business
Ending1
The net defined benefit liabilities of ￦153,808 million is calculated by subtracting ￦894 million net defined benefit assets from ￦154,702 million net defined benefit liabilities
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Gain or loss on settlement
Contributions
Details of the net defined benefit liabilities as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Present value of defined benefit obligation
Fair value of plan assets
Details of post-employment benefits recognized in profit or loss as employee compensation and benefits for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Past service cost1
Net interest expenses of net defined benefit liabilities
Post-employment benefits2
During the year ended December 31, 2018, other provisions (amounting to ￦22,306 million as of December 31, 2017) were transferred into net defined benefit liabilities.
Including post-employment benefits amounting to ￦2,047 million recognized as other operating expense and prepayment of ￦83 million recognized as other assets as of and for the year ended December 31, 2018,
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Remeasurements of the net defined benefit liabilities recognized as other comprehensive income for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Actuarial gains and losses
Income tax effects
Remeasurements after income tax
The details of fair value of plan assets as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Investment fund
Key actuarial assumptions used as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Salary increase rate (%)
Turnover (%)
Mortality assumptions are based on the experience-based mortality table of Korea Insurance Development Institute of 2015.
The sensitivity of the defined benefit obligation to changes in the weighted principal assumptions as of December 31, 2018, are as follows:
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The above sensitivity analyses are based on a change in an assumption while holding all other assumptions constant. In practice, this is unlikely to occur, and changes in some of the assumptions may be correlated. The sensitivity of the defined benefit obligation to changes in principal actuarial assumptions is calculated using the projected unit credit method, the same method applied when calculating the defined benefit obligations recognized on the statement of financial position.
Expected maturity analysis of undiscounted pension benefits (including expected future benefit) as of December 31, 2018, is as follows:
Pension benefits1
Excluded amount to be settled per promotion-incentivized defined contribution plan.
The weighted average duration of the defined benefit obligation is 1.0 ~ 11.2 years.
Expected contribution to plan assets for periods after December 31, 2018, is estimated to be ￦207,020 million.
25. Other Liabilities
Details of other liabilities as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Other payables
Prepaid card and debit card
Financial guarantee liabilities
Deposits for letter of guarantees and others
Foreign exchanges settlement credits
Borrowings from other business accounts
Other payables from trust accounts
Liability incurred from agency relationships
Account for agency businesses
Dividend payables
Other non-financial liabilities
Unearned revenue
Deferred revenue on credit card points
Withholding taxes
Separate account liabilities
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26. Equity
26.1 Share Capital
Details of share capital and number of issued shares of the Parent Company as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Type of share
Number of authorized shares
Par value per share
Number of issued shares
Share capital1
In millions of Korean won.
Changes in outstanding shares for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
26.2 Capital Surplus
Details of capital surplus as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Share premium
Loss on sales of treasury shares
Other capital surplus
26.3 Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Details of accumulated other comprehensive income as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Change in value of available-for-sale financial assets
Change in value of held-to-maturity financial assets
Hedges of net investments in foreign operations
Profit or loss from credit risk of financial liabilities designated at fair value
Net loss on overlay adjustment
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26.4 Retained Earnings
Details of retained earnings as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Legal reserves1
Voluntary reserves
Unappropriated retained earnings
With respect to the allocation of net profit earned in a fiscal term, the Parent Company must set aside in its legal reserve an amount equal to at least 10% of its net income after tax as reported in the separate statement of comprehensive income each time it pays dividends on its net profits earned until its legal reserve reaches at least the aggregate amount of its share capital in accordance with Article 53 of the Financial Holding Company Act. The reserve is not available for the payment of cash dividends, but may be transferred to share capital, or used to reduce accumulated deficit.
Retained earnings restricted for dividend at subsidiaries level pursuant to law and regulations amounts to ￦3,130,765 million as of December 31, 2018.
26.5 Treasury Shares
Changes in treasury shares outstanding for the year ended December 31, 2017 and 2018 are as follows:
Number of treasury shares1
Carrying amount1
For the year ended December 31, 2017, the treasury stock trust agreement of ￦800,000 million with Samsung Securities Co., Ltd., which had been signed in previous year, was terminated. In order to increase shareholder value, the Group entered into another treasury stock trust agreement of ￦300,000 million with Samsung Securities Co., Ltd. for the year ended December 31, 2017.
For the year ended December 31, 2018, the treasury stock trust agreement of ￦300,000 million with Samsung Securities Co., Ltd., which had been signed in 2018, was terminated. In order to increase shareholder value, the Group entered into another treasury stock trust agreement of ￦300,000 million with Samsung Securities Co., Ltd. for the year ended December 31, 2018.
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27. Net Interest Income
Details of interest income and interest expense for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018 are as follows:
Interest expenses
Regarding reclassification of interest income following the change in accounting policy, interest income for 2016 and 2017, has been restated.
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Loans measured at fair value through profit or loss
Deposits at amortized cost
Interest income recognized on impaired loans is ￦48,974 million (2017: ￦54,235 million, 2016: ￦60,212 million) for the year ended December 31, 2018. Interest income recognized on impaired financial investments does not exist (2017: ￦-, 2016: ￦226 million) for the year ended December 31, 2018.
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28. Net Fee and Commission Income
Details of fee and commission income, and fee and commission expense for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Banking activity fees
Lending activity fees
Credit & Debit card related fees and commissions1
Agent activity fees
Trust and other fiduciary fees
Fund management related fees
Guarantee fees
Foreign currency related fees
Commissions from transfer agent services
Other business account commission on consignment
Commissions received on securities business
Lease fees
Trading activity related fees2
Credit card related fees and commissions
Outsourcing related fees
In accordance with IFRS 15, the amount of ￦743,238 related to the services provided to the members is deducted from the income and expenses related to credit and debit card for the year ended December 31, 2018.
The fees from financial instruments at fair value through profit or loss.
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29. Net Gains or Losses on Financial Assets/Liabilities at Fair Value Through Profit or Loss
29.1 Net Gains or Losses on Financial Instruments Held for Trading
Net gain or loss from financial instruments at fair value through profit or loss includes dividend income, gains or losses arising from changes in the fair values, sales and redemptions. Details of net gain or loss from financial instruments held for trading for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Gains related to financial instruments held for trading
Stock or stock index
Losses related to financial instruments held for trading
Net gains or losses on financial instruments held for trading
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Regarding reclassification of interest income following the change of accounting policy, gains related to financial instruments held for trading for 2016 and 2017, has been restated.
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Revenue from financial instruments at fair value through profit or loss
Expense from financial instruments at fair value through profit or loss
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29.2 Net Gains or Losses on Financial Instruments Designated at Fair Value Through Profit or Loss
Net gain or loss from financial instruments designated at fair value through profit or loss includes dividend income and gains or losses arising from changes in the fair values, sales and redemptions. Details of net gain or loss from financial instruments designated at fair value through profit or loss for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Revenue from financial instruments designated at fair value through profit or loss
Expense from financial instruments designated at fair value through profit or loss
Net gains or losses on financial instruments designated at fair value through profit or loss
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30. Other Operating Income and Expenses
Details of other operating income and expenses for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Other operating income
Revenue related to available-for-sale financial assets
Gain on redemption of available-for-sale financial assets
Gain on sale of available-for-sale financial assets
Reversal for impairment on available-for-sale financial assets
Revenue related to held-to-maturity financial assets
Gain on redemption of held-to-maturity financial assets
Gain on foreign exchange transactions
Dividend income
Total other operating income
Other operating expenses
Expense related to available-for-sale financial assets
Loss on redemption of available-for-sale financial assets
Loss on sale of available-for-sale financial assets
Impairment on available-for-sale financial assets
Loss on foreign exchanges transactions
Total other operating expenses
Net other operating expenses
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Revenue related to financial assets mandatorily measured at fair value through other comprehensive income
Gain on redemption of financial assets mandatorily measured at fair value through other comprehensive income
Gain on sale of financial assets mandatorily measured at fair value through other comprehensive income
Gain on sale of loans at amortized cost
Expense on redemption of financial assets mandatorily measured at fair value through other comprehensive income
Losses on redemption of financial assets mandatorily measured at fair value through other comprehensive income
Losses on sale of financial assets mandatorily measured at fair value through other comprehensive income
Loss on sale of loans at amortized cost
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31. General and Administrative Expenses
31.1 General and Administrative Expenses
Details of general and administrative expenses for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Employee Benefits
Salaries and short-term employee benefits—salaries
Salaries and short-term employee benefits—others
Post-employment benefits—defined benefit plans
Post-employment benefits—defined contribution plans
Termination benefits
Rental expense
Tax and dues
Communication
Electricity and utilities
Publication
Repairs and maintenance
Vehicle
Travel
Training
Service fees
Electronic data processing expenses
Advertising
31.2 Share-based Payments
31.2.1 Stock grants
The Group changed the scheme of share-based payment from stock options to stock grants in November 2007. The stock grant award program is an incentive plan that sets, on grant date, the maximum amount of shares that can be awarded. Actual stock granted at the end of the vesting period is determined in accordance with achievement of pre-specified targets over the vesting period.
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Details of stock grants linked to long-term performance as of December 31, 2018, are as follows:
Grant date
Vesting conditions2
Series 17
Services fulfillment,
Achievement of targets on the basis of market performance (30~50%)3, Achievement of targets on the basis of non-market performance (50~70%)4
Series 18
Series 19
Achievement of targets on the basis of market performance (35%)3, Achievement of targets on the basis of non-market performance (65%)5
Series 20
Deferred grant
Series 69
Achievement of targets on the basis of market performance (30~50%), Achievement of targets on the basis of non-market performance (50~70%)
Series 71
Series 72
Series 73
Series 74
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Stock granted in 2010
Achievement of targets on the basis of market performance (10~50%), Achievement of targets on the basis of non-market performance (50~90%)
Stock granted in 2011
Stock granted in 2012
Stock granted in 2013
Stock granted in 2014
Stock granted in 2015
Stock granted in 2016
Stock granted in 2017
Stock granted in 2018
Granted shares represent the total number of shares initially granted to directors and employees that have residual shares at the end of reporting period (Deferred grants are residual shares at the end of the reporting period).
Executives and employees were given the option of deferring payment of the granted shares (after the date of retirement), payment ratio, and payment period. Accordingly, a certain percentage of the granted amount is deferred for up to five years after the date of retirement when the deferred grant has been confirmed.
Relative TSR (Total Shareholders Return) : ((fair value at contract end date—fair value at contract commencement date) + (total dividend paid for the period)) / fair value at contract commencement date
Accomplishment of subsidiaries’ performance and accomplishment of performance results
EPS, Asset Quality, HCROI, Accomplishment of Non-Banking performance
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Details of stock grants linked to short-term performance as of December 31, 2018, are as follows:
Vesting conditions
Executives and employees were given the option of deferred payment of the granted shares (after the date of retirement), payment ratio, and payment period. Accordingly, a certain percentage of the granted amount is deferred for up to five years after the date of retirement after the deferred grant has been confirmed.
Share grants are measured at fair value using the Monte Carlo Simulation Model and assumptions used in determining the fair value as of December 31, 2018, are as follows:
Linked to long term performance
(KB Financial Group Inc.)
Deferred grant in 2012
Deferred grant in 2013
Deferred grant in 2015
Deferred grant in 2016
Deferred grant in 2017
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(Kookmin Bank)
Grant deferred in 2015
Grant deferred in 2016
Grant deferred in 2017
(Other subsidiaries)
Share granted in 2010
Share granted in 2011
Share granted in 2012
Share granted in 2013
Share granted in 2014
Share granted in 2015
Share granted in 2016
Share granted in 2017
Share granted in 2018
Linked to short-term performance
The Group used the volatility of the stock price over the previous year as the expected volatility, and used the dividend yield as the arithmetic mean of the dividend rate of one year before, two years before, and three years before the base year, in order to calculate fair value.
As of December 31, 2017 and 2018, the accrued expenses related to share-based payments including share grants amounted to ￦ 133,496 million and ￦ 111,058 million, respectively, and the compensation costs from share grants amounting to ￦ 73,370 million and ￦ 10,930 million were incurred during the years ended 2017 and 2018, respectively.
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Details of Mileage stock as of December 31, 2018, are as follows:
Mileage stock may be exercised after one year from the grant date for two years. When the mileage stock is exercised, the closing price of prior month is applied. However, in case of transfer or retirement during the vesting period, mileage stock may still be exercised at the closing price of prior month.
The remaining shares are assessed based on the stock price as of December 31, 2018. These shares may be vested immediately at grant date.
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As of December 31, 2017 and 2018, the accrued expenses for share-based payments in regards to mileage stock amounted to ￦2,973 million and ￦2,283 million, respectively, and the compensation costs amounting to ￦2,378 million and ￦1,350 million were incurred during the year ended December 31, 2017 and 2018, respectively.
32. Net Other Non-operating Income and Expenses
Details of other non-operating income and expenses for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Other non-operating income
Gain on disposal in property and equipment
Rent received
Gain on bargain purchase
Gain on sales of disposal group held for sale
Other non-operating expenses
Loss on disposal in property and equipment
Donation
Restoration cost
Management cost for special bonds
Loss on sales of disposal group held for sale
Impairment loss on disposition of disposal group held for sale
Impairment loss for goodwill
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33. Income Tax Expense
Income tax expense for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Tax payable
Current tax expense
Adjustments recognized in the period for current tax of prior years
Changes in deferred income tax assets (liabilities)1
Income tax recognized directly in equity
Exchange difference in foreign operation
Gains (losses) on financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income
Hedges of a net investment in a foreign operation
OCI related with assets held for sale
OCI related with separate account assets
The corporate tax rate was changed due to the amendment of corporate tax law in 2017. Accordingly, the expected rate has been applied for the deferred tax assets and liabilities that are expected to be utilized in periods after 2018. Amended income tax rate for ￦200 million and below is 11%, for ￦200 million to ￦20 billion is 22%, for ￦20 billion to ￦300 billion is 24.2% and for over ￦300 billion is 27.5%.
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An analysis of the net profit before income tax and income tax expense for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018, follows:
Net profit before income tax
Tax at the applicable tax rate1
Non-taxable income
Non-deductible expense
Tax credit and tax exemption
Temporary difference for which no deferred tax is recognized
Deferred tax relating to changes in recognition and measurement
Income tax refund for tax of prior years
Income tax expense of overseas branch
Effects from change in tax rate
Average effective tax rate and tax expense
Applicable income tax rate for ￦200 million and below is 11%, for ￦200 million to ￦20 billion is 22%, for ￦20 billion to 300 billion is 24.2% and for over 300 billion is 27.5% as of December 31, 2018 and for ￦200 million and below is 11%, for ￦200 million to ￦20 billion is 22% and for over ￦20 billion is 24.2% as of December 31, 2017 and 2016.
34. Dividends
The dividends paid to the shareholders of the Parent Company in 2017 and 2018 were ￦497,969 million (￦1,250 per share), and ￦766,728 million (￦1,920 per share), respectively. The dividend to the shareholders in respect of the year ended December 31, 2018 of ￦1,920 per share, amounting to total dividends of ￦759,736 is to be proposed at the annual general meeting on March 27, 2019. The Group’s financial statements as of December 31, 2018, do not reflect this dividend payable.
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35. Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Details of changes in accumulated other comprehensive income for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Change in the fair value of available-for-sale financial assets
Other comprehensive income of disposal group held for sale
Other comprehensive income of assets held for sale
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Other comprehensive income related with separate account assets
Net gains/(losses) on overlay adjustment
36. Earnings per Share
36.1 Basic Earnings Per Share
Basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing profit and loss attributable to ordinary equity holders of the Parent Company by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding, excluding the treasury shares, during the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018.
Weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding:
Weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding
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Basic earnings per share:
Profit attributable to ordinary shares (A)
Weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding (B)
Basic earnings per share (C = A / B)
36.2 Diluted Earnings per Share
Diluted earnings per share is calculated using the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding which is adjusted by the weighted average number of additional ordinary shares that would have been outstanding assuming the conversion of all dilutive potential ordinary shares. The Group’s dilutive potential ordinary shares include stock grants.
A calculation is done to determine the number of shares that could have been acquired at fair value (determined as the average market share price of the Group’s outstanding shares for the period) based on the monetary value of the subscription rights attached to the share options. The number of shares calculated above is compared with the number of shares that would have been issued assuming the exercise of stock grants.
Adjusted profit for diluted earnings per share for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Profit attributable to ordinary shares
Adjustment
Adjusted profit for diluted earnings
Adjusted weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding to calculate diluted earnings per share for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Adjustment:
Stock grants
Adjusted weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding for diluted earnings per share
Diluted earnings per share for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Adjusted profit for diluted earnings per share
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37. Insurance Contracts
37.1 Insurance Assets
Details of deferred acquisition costs included in other assets as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Non-life insurance
Life insurance
Changes in the deferred acquisition costs for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Details of reinsurance assets included in other assets as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
General insurance
Total reinsurance assets
Allowance for impairment
Total reinsurance assets, net
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The changes in reinsurance assets included in other assets as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
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37.2 Insurance Liabilities
Details of insurance liabilities as of December 31, 2017 and 2018 are as follows:
Long-term insurance premium reserve
Reserve for participating policyholders’ dividends on long-term insurance
Unallocated Divisible Surplus to Future Policyholders
Reserve for compensation for losses on dividend-paying insurance contracts
Guarantee reserve
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The changes in insurance liabilities for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Long-term investment contract
Pure endowment insurance
Death insurance
Joint insurance
Group insurance
Others1
Consists of contractor’s profit dividend reserve and loss on dividend insurance reserve
Including currency translation effect and decrease in liability related to investment contract
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37.3 Liability adequacy test
37.3.1 Non-life insurance
(a) Assumptions and basis for the insurance liability adequacy test as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, is as follows:
Basis
Expense ratio
Lapse ratio
Mortality
Appraisal cost ratio
Claim settlement ratio
The results of liability adequacy test as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
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Long-term insurance is for premium reserves and unrecognized premium reserves; the premium reserve is the amount deducted from the unearned premiums and insurance contract loans in accordance with Article 6-3 of the Insurance Supervisory Regulation.
As a result of adequacy test, the Group did not set additional reserve as it shows net surplus. As such, there was no amount recorded as a result of liability adequacy test.
37.3.2 Life insurance
Assumptions and basis for the insurance liability adequacy test as of December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Rate of surrender value
Rate of claim
Indirect costs included in commission and operating expenses were calculated based on unit cost of the expense allocation standards of the last year in accordance with the Regulation on Insurance Supervision. Direct costs included in commission and operating expenses were calculated based on estimates of future expense according to the Group’s regulations.
The results of liability adequacy test as of December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Fixed interest type
Variable interest type
Variable type
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As a result of adequacy test, the group did not set additional reserve as it shows net surplus. As such, there was no amount recorded as a result of liability adequacy test.
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37.4 Insurance Income and Expenses
Insurance income and expenses for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Income of change in reinsurance assets
Expenses of change in reinsurance assets
Net insurance income(expenses)
37.5 Risk management of non-life insurance
37.5.1 Overview
Insurance risk is the risk that arises from a primary operation of insurance companies that is associated with acceptance of insurance contract and payment of claims, and is classified as the insurance price risk and the reserves risk. The insurance price risk is the risk of loss that might occur when the actual risk exceeds the expected risk rate or expected insurance operating expenses ratios in calculation of premiums. It is the risk of loss that arises from differences between actual payment of claims and premiums received from policyholders. The reserves risk is the risk that arises due to a deficit in reserves at the date of assessment, making the Group unable to cover the actual claims payment in the future.
37.5.2 Purposes, policies and procedures to manage risk arising from insurance contracts
The risks associated with insurance contract that the Group faces are the insurance actuarial risk and the acceptance risk. Each risk occurs due to insurance contract’s pricing and conditions of acceptance. In order to minimize acceptance risk, the Group establishes guidelines and procedure for acceptance and out lines specific conditions for acceptance by product. In addition, expected risk level at the date of pricing is compared with actual risk of contracts after acceptance and the interest rate is adjusted accordingly, conditions of sale is changed, sale of goods is interrupted and other measures are taken in order to reduce insurance actuarial risk. The Group has a committee to discuss status of product acceptance risk and interest rate policy. The committee decides important matters to set the processes that allow minimizing the insurance actuarial risk, the acceptance risk and other business related risk.
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In addition, according to reinsurance operating standards, the Group establishes an operating strategy of reinsurance for large claims expense due to unexpected catastrophic events. The Group supports so that policyholders are safe and the Group’s stable profit can be achieved. For the long-term goal, the Group manages risk at a comprehensive level to keep its value at the maximum.
37.5.3 Exposure to insurance price risk
According to RBC standard, exposure to insurance price risk is defined as net written premiums for prior 1 year that is calculated by adding and subtracting original insurance premium, assumed reinsurance premium and ceded reinsurance premium.
The Group’s exposure to insurance price risk as of December 31, 2017 and 2018 as follows:
Automobile
Long-term
37.5.4 Concentration of Insurance risk
The Group is selling general non-life insurances (fire, maritime, injury, technology, liability, package, title, guarantee and special type insurances), automobile insurances (for private use, for hire, for business, bicycle and other), long-term insurances (long-term non-life, property damage, injury, driver, savings, illness, nursing and pension) and various other insurances. The Group’s risk is distributed through reinsurance, joint acceptance and diversified selling. In addition, insurances that cover serious damage of risk, although with rare possibility of the occurrence of disaster, such as storm and flood insurance are limited, and the Group controls the risk through joint acquisition.
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Loss development tables
The Group uses claim development of payments and the estimated ultimate claims for the accident years in order to maintain overall reserve adequacy in respect of general, automobile and long-term insurance. When the estimated ultimate claims are greater than claim payments, the Group establishes additional reserves. Loss development tables as of December 31, 2017 and 2018 are as follows:
<2017>
General Insurance
Estimate of gross ultimate claims (A)
2013.1.1~2013.12.31
2014.1.1~2014.12.31
2015.1.1~2015.12.31
2016.1.1~2016.12.31
2017.1.1~2017.12.31
Gross cumulative claim payments (B)
Difference (A-B)
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Automobile Insurance
2011.1.1~2011.12.31
2012.1.1~2012.12.31
Long-term Insurance
Estimate of ultimate claims (A)
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<2018>
2018.1.1~2018.12.31
Gross cumulative claim payments(B)
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37.5.5 Sensitivity analysis of insurance risk
The Group manages insurance risk by performing sensitivity analysis based on discount rate, loss ratio and insurance operating expenses ratio which are considered to have significant influence on future cash flow, timing and uncertainty. According to result of sensitivity analysis there is no material influence on the equity and net profit before tax.
Surrenders and termination rates
Loss ratio
Insurance operating expenses ratio
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37.5.6 Liquidity risk of insurance contracts
Liquidity risk arising from insurance contracts is the increase in refunds at maturity caused by concentrations of maturity, the increase in surrender values caused by unexpected amounts in cancellation and the increase in payments of claims caused by catastrophic events. The Group manages payment of refunds payable at maturity by analyzing maturity of insurance.
Premium reserve’s maturity structure as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, as follows:
Long-term insurance non-participating
Non-linked
Linked
Annuity
Asset-linked
Includes long-term investment contract amounting to ￦112,510 million.
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Includes long-term investment contract amounting to ￦110,255 million.
37.5.7 Credit risk of insurance contract
Credit risk of insurance contract is the economic loss arising from non-performing contractual obligations due to decline in credit ratings or default. Through strict internal review, the Group cedes insurance contracts to the insurers rated above BBB- of S&P rating.
As of December 31, 2018, there are 155 reinsurance companies that deal with the Group, and the top three reinsurance companies’ concentration and credit ratings are as follows:
Reinsurance company
KOREAN RE
SWISSRE
HDIgerling
Exposures to credit risk related to reinsurance as of December 31, 2018 as follows:
Reinsurance assets1
Net receivables from reinsurers2
Net carrying amounts after impairment loss
Net carrying amounts of each reinsurance company that offsets reinsurance accounts receivable and reinsurance accounts payable and after allowance for loan losses
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37.5.8 Interest risk of insurance contract
The interest rate risk exposure from the Group’s insurance contracts is the risk of unexpected losses in net interest income or net assets arising from changes in interest rates and it is managed to minimize the loss experienced. For long-term, non-life insurance contracts, the Group calculates exposure of interest-bearing assets and interest-bearing liabilities. Liabilities exposure is premium reserves after subtracting costs of termination deductions. Asset exposure is interest-bearing assets. Assets that receive only fees without interest are excluded from interest bearing assets. Exposures to interest rate risk as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
i) Exposure to interest rate risk
Fixed interest rate
Variable interest rate
Financial assets at fair value through
profit or loss
Due from financial institutions at amortized cost and cash
ii) Measurement and recognition method
Duration is used to measure interest rate risk within risk based solvency test. ALM system is utilized to manage interest rate risk internally. In addition, Risk Management Committee sets ALM strategy every year to manage interest rate risk.
iii) Sensitivity to changes in interest rates
Generally, when interest rates rise, the value and duration of assets and liabilities fall when interest rates fall, value and duration of assets and liabilities increase. Where duration of assets is shorter than that of liabilities
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with the interest rates fall, the interest risk is increased since the incremental portion of liabilities exceeds that of assets.
iv) Negative spread risk control
In order to manage the reverse margins risk between interest expenses from liabilities and investment incomes on assets, the Group set the disclosure rate every month considering the market interest rate and the managing portfolio’s profit ratio.
37.6 Risk management of life insurance
37.6.1 Overview
Insurance risk is the risk of loss arising from the actual risk at the time of claims exceeding the estimated risk at the time of underwriting. Insurance risk is classified by insurance price risk and policy reserve risk. Insurance price risk is the risk of loss arising from differences between received from policyholders and actual claims paid. Policy reserve risk is the risk of loss arising from differences between policy reserves the Group holds and actual claims to be paid. The Group measures only insurance price risk under RBC requirement because life insurance claim payout is mainly in a fixed amount with less volatility in policy reserve and shorter waiting period before payment
37.6.2 Concentration of insurance risk and reinsurance policy
The Group uses reinsurance to mitigate concentration of insurance risk seeking an enhanced capital management. The Group categorized reinsurance into group and individual contracts, and reinsurance is ceded through the following process:
In the decision-making process of launching a new product, the Group makes a decision on ceding reinsurance. Subsequently, a reinsurer is selected through bidding, agreements with the relevant departments and final approval by the executive management.
The reinsurance department analyzes the object of reinsurance, the maximum limit of reinsurance and the loss ratio with the relevant departments.
37.6.3 The characteristic and exposure of insurance price risk
The exposure of insurance price risk is measured by the risk premium for all insurance contracts held for one year prior to the calculation date. The premium for risk retention is calculated by adding direct insurance premium and reinsurance assumed premium, and deducting reinsurance ceded premium (which is paid to reinsurance companies). If the holding risk premium is less than zero, the exposure of the insurance price is measured as zero.
The insurance risk of a life insurance company is measured by insurance price risk. As the life insurance coverage is in the form of a fixed payment, the fluctuation of policy reserve is small and the period from insured event to claims payment is not long. The policy reserve risk is managed by assessments of adequacy of the policy reserve.
The insurance price risk is managed through insurance risk management regulation established by Risk Management Committee.
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The maximum exposures to insurance price risk as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Death
Disability
Hospitalization
Operation and diagnosis
Actual losses for medical expense
Average ratios of claims paid per risk premium received on the basis of exposure before mitigation for the past three years as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, were 65.9% and 67.6%, respectively.
The exposure of market risk arising from embedded derivatives included in host insurance contracts as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Variable annuity
Variable universal
Variable saving
Excluding the amount of the lapsed reserve
37.6.4 Assumptions used in measuring insurance liabilities
The Group applies assumed rates defined in the premium and liability reserve calculation manual under regulation on supervision of insurance business when measuring insurance liabilities at every reporting period. For interest sensitive insurance, credit rate stated in the premium and liabilities reserve calculation manual, which is calculated based on adjusted external base rate and return rate of asset management according to Article 6-12 of the Regulation on Supervision of Insurance Business.
Reserve amount should exceed the standard reserve which is calculated using the standard interest rate and standard risk rate under regulation on supervision of insurance business.
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37.6.5 Premium reserves and unearned premium reserves residual maturity
Premium reserves and unearned premium reserves classified based on each residual maturity as of December 31, 2018 and 2018, are as follows:
Premium reserves
37.7 The Overlay Approach
The Group applied “The Overlay Approach” under IFRS 4 at the initial application of IFRS 9.
Details of financial assets applied “The Overlay Approach” as of December 31, 2018, are as follows:
Changes of net losses on overlay adjustment for the year ended December 31, 2018, are as follows:
Recognition due to acquisition
Reclassification to profit or loss due to disposal
Recognition of OCI from profit or loss due to re-designation
Recognition of profit or loss from OCI due to de-designation
Calculated based on IFRS 9
Amounts are net of tax
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38. Supplemental Cash Flow Information
Cash and cash equivalents as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Cash
Checks with other banks
Due from other financial institutions
Restricted cash from financial institutions
Due from financial institutions with original maturities over three months
Significant non-cash transactions for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Decrease in loans due to the write-offs
Changes in accumulated other comprehensive income due to valuation of financial investments
Changes in accumulated other comprehensive income due to valuation of financial investments at fair value through other comprehensive income
Decrease in accumulated other comprehensive income from measurement of investment securities in associates
Changes in shares of investment in associate due to KB Insurance Co., Ltd.’s inclusion of the consolidation scope
Changes in shares of investment in associate due to Hyundai Securities Co., Ltd.’s inclusion of the consolidation scope
Changes in other payables due to treasury stock trust agreement, etc.
Cash inflows and outflows from income tax, interests and dividends for the year December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Income tax paid
Interest received
Interest paid
Dividends received
Dividends paid
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Changes in liabilities arising from financing activities
Changes in liabilities and assets that arising from financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2018 are as follows:
Derivatives held for hedging1
Derivatives held for hedging purposes are the net amount after offsetting liabilities from assets
The net cash inflow associated with the change of the subsidiaries for the year ended December 31, 2018 was ￦188,140 million.
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39. Contingent Liabilities and Commitments
Details of payment guarantees as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Confirmed payment guarantees
Confirmed payment guarantees in Korean won
Payment guarantees for KB purchasing loan
Other payment guarantees
Confirmed payment guarantees in foreign currency
Acceptances of letter of credit
Letter of guarantees
Bid bond
Performance bond
Refund guarantees
Other payment guarantees in foreign currency
Financial guarantees
Payment guarantees for mortgage
Overseas debt guarantees
International financing guarantees in foreign currencies
Other financing payment guarantees
Total Confirmed acceptances and guarantees
Unconfirmed acceptances and guarantees
Guarantees of letter of credit
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Payment guarantees that are exposed to credit risk as of December 31, 2018, are as follows:
Acceptances and guarantees by counterparty as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Corporations
Small companies
Public and others
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Acceptances and guarantees by industry as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Whole sale & Retail
Commitments as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Corporate loan commitments
Retail loan commitments
Credit line on credit cards
Purchase of other security investment and others
Financial Guarantees
Credit line
Purchase of security investment
Other Matters (including litigation)
a) The Group has filed 185 lawsuits (excluding minor lawsuits in relation to the collection or management of loans), involving aggregate claims of ￦526,449 million, and faces 291 lawsuits (as the defendant) (excluding minor lawsuits in relation to the collection or management of loans) involving aggregate damages of ￦293,349 million, which arose in the normal course of the business and are still pending as of December 31, 2018.
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b) Kookmin Bank made a construction contract building the integrated company building, and the integrated central IT, amounting to ￦ 151,280 million, and ￦ 116,563 million, respectively; for the year ended December 31, 2018, the subsidiary has paid ￦ 7,605 million and ￦ 42,857 million for each the integrated company building and the integrated central IT, respectively.
c) The face value of the securities which Kookmin Bank sold to general customers through the bank tellers amounts to ￦372 million and ￦372 million as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, respectively.
d) While setting up a fraud detection system, a computer contractor employed by the personal credit ratings firm Korea Credit Bureau caused a widespread data breach in June 2013, resulting in the theft of cardholders’ personal information. As a result of the leakage of customer personal information, the KB Kookmin Card received a notification from the Financial Services Commission that the KB Kookmin Card was subject to a temporary three-month operating suspension as of February 16, 2014. In respect of the incident, the Group faces 113 legal claims filed as the defendant, with an aggregate claim of ￦ 6,906 million as of December 31, 2018. A provision liability of ￦9,886 million has been recognized for these pending lawsuits. In addition, the additional lawsuits may be filed against the Group. Meanwhile, the final outcome of the cases cannot be reasonably ascertained.
e) As of December 31, 2018, the Group is in the process of filing complaints regarding insurance contracts including reverse pension plans; the amount paid and the timing related with this filing cannot be predicted as of December 31, 2018.
40. Subsidiaries
Details of subsidiaries as of December 31, 2018, are as follows:
Investor
Investee
Date offinancialstatements
Dec. 31
Banking and foreign exchange transaction
Financial investment
Credit card and installment finance
Collective investment and advisory
Financial Leasing
Savings banking
Real estate trust management
Capital investment
Collection of receivables or credit investigation
KB Data System Co., Ltd.
Software advisory, development, and supply
Kookmin Bank Int’l Ltd. (London)6
Kookmin Bank Cambodia PLC.
Kookmin Bank China Ltd.
Myanmar
Other credit granting n.e.c.
KBD Tower 1st L.L.C. and 33 others2
Asset-backed securitization
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KB Multi-Asset Private Securities Fund S-1(BondMixed)
Investment trust
KB Multi-Asset Private Securities Fund P-1(BondMixed)
KB Haeoreum private securities investment trust 96(Bond)3
Samsung KODEX 10Y F-LKTB Inverse ETF(Bond-Derivatives)
KB Haeoreum private securities investment trust 83(Bond)
Kiwoom Frontier Private placement fund 10[Bond]
Tong Yang Safe Plus Qualified Private TrustS-8(Bond)
Mirae Asset Triumph Global Privately placed Feeder Investment Trust 1
NH-AMUNDI GLOBAL PRIVATE SECURITIES INVESTMENT TRUST 1(BOND)]
Meritz Private Real Estate Fund 9-2
AIP US RED PRIVATE REAL ESTATE TRUST NO.10
KB Evergreen Private Securities Fund 98(Bond)3
KB Korea Choet Term Premium Private Securities 5(USD)(Bond)
KB Korea Short Term Premium Private Securities 4(USD)(Bond)3
United States of America
Investment advisory and securities dealing activities
KB SECURITIES VIETNAM JOINT STOCK COMPANY
Vietnam
Able NS Co., Ltd and 61 others2
KB NA COMPASS ENERGY PRIVATE SPECIAL ASSET FUND3
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Hyundai You First Private Real Estate Investment Trust No. 1
Hyundai Smart Index Alpha Securities Feeder Investment Trust No.1
Hyundai Strong Korea Equity Trust No.1
Hyundai Kidzania Equity Feeder Trust No.1
Hyundai Value Plus Equity Feeder Trust No.1
Hyundai Strong-small Corporate Trust No.1
Heungkuk Highclass Private Real Estate Trust No. 21
JB New Jersey Private Real Estate Investment Trust No. 1
Heungkuk Global Highclass Private Real Estate Trust No. 23
Hyundai Dynamic Mix Securities Feeder Investment Trust No.1
Hyundai Quant Long Short Securities Feeder Investment Trust No. 1
Hyudai China Index Plus Securities Investment Trust No.1
Hyundai Kon-tiki Specialized Privately Placed Fund No.1
DGB Private real estate Investment Trust No.8
Aquila Global Real Assets Fund No.1 LP
Cayman islands
Able Quant Asia Pacific Feeder Fund(T.E.) Limited
Mangrove Feeder Fund
LB Ireland Private Real Estate Investment Trust 8
KTB Aircraft Private Investment Trust No.21-1
Pacific US Blackrock Private Placement Real Estate Fund No.15
Vestas Qualified Investors Private Real Estate Fund Investment Trust No.38
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KB Claims Survey & Adjusting
Claim service
KB Sonbo CNS
Management service
Indonesia
KB Golden Life Care Co., Ltd.
KB AMP Infra Private Special Asset Fund 1(FoFs)3
KB Muni bond Private Securities Fund 1(USD)(bond) 3
KB CHILE SOLAR FUND
Meritz Private Specific Real Estate Fund 1-2
KB Global Private Real Estate Debt Fund 13
Dongbu Private Fund 16th
Hana Landchip Real estate Private Fund 58th
Hyundai Aviation Private Fund 3rd
Hyundai Power Professional Investment Type Private Investment Fund No.4
KB U.S. LongShort Private Securities Fund 1
Hyundai Infra Professional Investment Type Private Investment Trust No.5
KB SAUDI Private Special Asset Fund
Meritz Private Real Estate Fund 8
Hyundai Star Private Real Estate Investment Trust No. 14
Vogo debt strategy private real estate fund VII
KORAMCO Europe Debt Strategy Private Real-Estate Fund 2nd
KB Peru Transmission Facility Investment Private Fund
KB Global Private Real Estate Debt Fund 2
KB Europe Private Real Estate Debt Fund 1
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Wise Mobile 18th Securitization Co., Ltd.2
Asset-backed securitization and others
KB Kookmin Card 3rd Securitization Co., Ltd. And 2 other2
Heungkuk Life Insurance Money Market Trust
Trust asset management
KB DAEHAN SPECIALIZED BANK PLC.
Banking
KB Evergreen Private Securities Fund No. 59(Bond)
Private fund
KB Haeoreum Private Securities Investment Trust 1st(debt securities)
KB Star Office Private Real Estate Feeder fund 3-2
KB Asset Management Singapore Pte, Ltd.
KB Global Equity Solution Securities FeederFund(Equity-FoFs)3
KB Star Short Term Securities Feeder Fund(Bond)3
KB Onkookmin Life Income RIF 20 Feeder Fund(Fofs)3
KB Onkookmin Life Income RIF 40 Feeder Fund(Fofs)3
KB Active Investor Securities Investment Trust(Derivatives Mixed)
KB Global Multi Asset Income Securities Feeder Fund(Bond Mixed-FoFs)
KB G2 Plus Korea Securities Fund(Equity)
KoFC-KB Young Pioneer 1st Fund4
KB NEW CONTENTS Venture Fund4
KB Young Pioneer 3.0 Venture Fund4
KB Pre IPO Secondary Venture Fund 24
KB Contents Panda iMBC Contents Venture Fund4
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Heungkuk Global Highclass Private Real Estate Trust 23
Hyundai Trust Securities Feeder Investment Trust No.1-Bond
Hyundai Quant Long Short Securities Feeder Investment Trust
Hyundai Smart Index Alpha Securities Feeder Inv Trust 1
Hyundai Value Plus Securities Feeder Investment Trust 1 and others
Hyundai Dynamic Mix Securities Feeder Investment Trust
KB Securities Co., Ltd., KB Insurance Co., Ltd., KB Asset Management Co., Ltd.
Kookmin Bank, KB Insurance Co., Ltd., KB Investment Co., Ltd., KB Capital Co., Ltd.
KB Digital Innovation Investment Fund Limited partnership
Kookmin Bank, KB Insurance Co., Ltd., KB life Insurance Co., Ltd.
KB Hope Sharing BTL Private Special Asset3
KB Senior Loan Private Fund3
Kookmin Bank, KB Insurance Co., Ltd.
Hanbando BTL Private Special Asset Fund 1st3
KB KBSTAR KTB 3Y Futures Inverse ETF
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KB KBSTAR Mid-Long Term KTB Active ETF
Kookmin Bank, KB Securities Co., Ltd., KB Insurance Co., Ltd., KB life Insurance, KB Kookmin Card Co., Ltd., KB Capital Co., Ltd.
KB digital innovation&growth New Technology Business Investment Fund
Kookmin Bank, KB Securities Co., Ltd., KB Insurance Co., Ltd., KB life Insurance, KB Asset Management Co., Ltd.
KB Global Core Bond Securities Fund Master Fund(Bond)
Kookmin Bank, KB Securities Co., Ltd., KB Asset Management Co., Ltd.
KB Everyone TDF 2035 Securities Investment Trust—Bond Balanced-Fund of Funds3
KB Everyone TDF 2045 Securities Investment Trust—Bond Balanced-Fund of Funds
Kookmin Bank, KB Insurance Co., Ltd., KB Securities Co., Ltd., KB Real Estate Trust Co., Ltd.
KB Wise Star Private Real Estate Feeder Fund 1st.
Kookmin Bank, KB Investment Co., Ltd., KB Capital Co., Ltd.
KB Intellectual Property Fund 2
Kookmin Bank, KB Investment Co., Ltd.
KB12-1 Venture Investment
KB Start-up Creation Fund
KB Intellectual Property Fund4
Kookmin Bank, KB life Insurance Co., Ltd.
KB Mezzanine Private Securities Fund 2nd3
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Kookmin Bank, KB Insurance Co., Ltd., KB life Insurance, KB Investment Co., Ltd.
KB High-tech Company Investment Fund
KB Insurance Co., Ltd., KB life Insurance Co., Ltd., KB Investment Co., Ltd.
KB-Solidus Global Healthcare Fund3
KB Kookmin Card Co., Ltd., KB Capital Co., Ltd.
KB KOLAO LEASING CO., Ltd
Laos
Auto installment finance
Mirae Asset Triumph Global Privately placed Master Investment Trust 1
Mangrove Master Fund
BECKETT ACQUISITION LIMITED
Ireland
Real Estate Activities
KB Star Fund_KB Value Focus Korea Equity
Luxembourg
KB Securities Co., Ltd., KB Investment Co., Ltd.
KB KONEX Market Vitalization Fund4
KB Neo Paradigm Agriculture Venture
KB New Paradigm Fisheries Venture Fund4
KB Star Office Private Real Estate Master Investment Trust 25
KB Star Office Private Real Estate Investment Trust 3
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KB Star Short Term Securities Feeder Fund(Bond)
KB Star Short Term Securities Master Fund(Bond)
KB Multi-Asset Private Securities Master Fund P-1(BondMixed)
KB Global Core Bond Securities Master Fund(Bond)
KB Global Equity Solution Securities Feeder Fund(Equity-FoFs))
KB Global Equity Solution Securities Master Fund(Equity-FoFs)
KB Global Multi Asset Income Securities Master Fund(Bond Mixed-FoFs)
Global Investment Opportunity Limited
Malaysia
Financial investment and Real Estate Activities
KB Onkookmin Life Income RIF 40 Feeder Fund(Fofs)
KB Onkookmin Life Income RIF 40 Master Fund(Fofs)
KB Onkookmin Life Income RIF 20 Feeder Fund(Fofs)
KB Onkookmin Life Income RIF 20 Master Fund(Fofs)
ABLE NJ DSM INVESTMENT REIT
HYUNDAI ABLE INVESTMENT REIT
HYUNDAI ABLE PATRIOTS PARK, LLC
AGRAF Real Estate No.1, Senningerberg
AGRAF Real Estate Holding No.1, Senningerberg
Vierte CasaLog GmbH & Co. KG and 2 others
Germany
HD 1 Grundstucksgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG
Sechste Casalog KG
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Able Quant Asia Pacific Master Fund Limited
ABLE NJ DSM, LLC
Personal pension trusts and 10 other trusts1
Trust
The Group controls the trust because it has power that determines the management performance over the trust and is exposed to variable returns to absorb losses through the guarantees of payment of principal, or payment of principal and fixed rate of return.
Although the Group holds less than a majority of the investee’s voting rights, the Group controls these investees as it has power over relevant activities in case of default; is significantly exposed to variable returns by providing lines of credit or ABCP purchase commitments or due to acquisition of subordinated debt; and has ability to affect those returns through its power.
Although the Group holds less than a majority of the investee’s voting rights, the Group controls the investee as it has power over relevant activities by managing the fund; has significant percentage of ownership; is significantly exposed to variable returns which is affected by the performance of the investees; and has ability to affect the performance through its power.
Although the Group holds less than a majority of the investee’s voting rights, the Group controls the investee as it has power over relevant activities by taking the role of an operating manager and it is significantly exposed to variable returns which is affected by the performance of the investees, and has ability to affect the performance through its power.
Although the Group holds less than a majority of the investee’s voting rights, the Group participated directly in establishment of this entity and has power over relevant activities, and is significantly exposed to variable returns which is affected by the performance of the investee, and has ability to affect the performance through its power. Accordingly the Group has control over the investee.
The Group changed Kookmin Bank Int’l Ltd. (London) to Kookmin Bank London Branch on May 16, 2018, and this event is categorized as business combination of entities under common control. The assets and liabilities acquired under business combinations under common control are recognized at the carrying amounts in the consolidated financial statements of the Group. The transferred assets and liabilities due to this business combination are ￦ 480,161 million and ￦ 480,023 million, respectively.
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The condensed financial information of major subsidiaries as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, and for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018, is as follows:
Kookmin Bank1
KB Securities Co., Ltd.1,2
KB Insurance Co., Ltd.1,2
KB Kookmin Card Co., Ltd.1
KB Life Insurance Co., Ltd.1
KB Asset Management Co., Ltd.1
KB Capital Co., Ltd.1,2
KB Investment Co., Ltd.1
Financial information is based on its consolidated financial statements.
The amount includes the fair value adjustments due to the merger.
Nature of the risks associated with interests in consolidated structured entities
The terms of contractual arrangements to provide financial support to a consolidated structured entity
The Group has provided payment guarantees of ￦3,227,444 million to KBD Tower 1st L.L.C. and other subsidiaries.
The Group provides capital commitment to KB Wise Star Private Real Estate Feeder Fund 1st. and 13 other subsidiaries. The unexecuted amount of the investment agreement is ￦ 291,481 million. Based on the capital commitment, the Group is subject to increase its investment upon the request of the asset management company or the additional agreement among investors.
The Group provides the guarantees of payment of principal, or principal and fixed rate of return in case the operating results of the trusts are less than the guaranteed principal, or principal and fixed rate of return.
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Changes in subsidiaries
The subsidiaries newly included in consolidation during the year ended December 31, 2018, are as follows:
Tong Yang Safe Plus Qualified Private Trust S-8(Bond) and 24 others
Holds over than a majority of the ownership interests
KBD Tower 1st L.L.C. and 50 others
Holds the power in the case of default and exposed to variable returns by providing lines of credit, ABCP purchase commitments or acquiring subordinated debt
KB Global Private Real Estate Debt Fund 1 and 22 others
Holds the power to determine the operation of the trust and exposed to variable returns by holding significant amount of ownership interests
KB Pre IPO Secondary Venture Fund 2nd and 5 other
The Group has a power over the investee as a general partner, is significantly exposed to variable returns due to significant percentage of ownership.
The subsidiaries excluded from consolidation during the year ended December 31, 2018, are as follows:
Able Vison 1st Co., Ltd and 27 others
Lost the right of variable returns due to the releasing debt
Wise Mobile 12th Securitization Co., Ltd. and 14 others
Settlement
LIME ORANGE PRIVATE EQUITY FUND 6 and 8 others
KB Everyone TDF 2025 Securities Investment Trust - Bond Balanced-Fund of Funds and 10 others
Ownership decrease under 50%
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41. Unconsolidated Structured Entity
The nature, purpose and activities of the unconsolidated structured entities and how the structured entities are financed, are as follows:
Nature
Purpose
Activity
Method of Financing
Early cash generation through transfer of securitization assets
Fees earned as services to SPC, such as providing lines of credit and ABCP purchase commitments
Fulfillment of Asset-backed securitization plan
Purchase and transfer of securitization assets
Issuance and repayment of ABS and ABCP
Project Financing
Granting PF loans to SOC and real estate
Granting loans to ships/aircrafts SPC
Construction of SOC and real estate
Building ships/ construction and purchase of aircrafts
Management of financial trusts;
—Development trust
—Mortgage trust
—Management trust
—Disposal trust
—Distribution and management trust
—Other trusts
Development, management, and disposal of trusted real estate assets
Payment of trust fees and allocation of trust profits.
Distribution of trusted real estate assets and financing of trust company
Public auction of trusted real estate assets and financing of trust company
Investment funds
Investment in beneficiary certificates
Investment in PEF and partnerships
Management of fund assets
Payment of fund fees and allocation of fund profits
Sales of beneficiary certificate instruments
Investment of managing partners and limited partners
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Details of scale of unconsolidated structured entities and nature of the risks associated with the Group’s interests in unconsolidated structured entities as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Total assets of unconsolidated Structured Entity
Carrying amount on financial statements
Investment in associates and joint ventures
Maximum exposure to loss1
Holding assets
Purchase and investment commitments
Unused credit
Payment guarantee and loan commitments
Methods of determining the maximum exposure to loss
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Maximum exposure to loss includes the asset amounts, after deducting loss(provision for assets, impairment losses and others), recognized in the financial statements of the Group.
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42. Finance and Operating Lease
42.1 Finance lease
42.1.1 The Group as finance lessee
The future minimum lease payments arising as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Net carrying amount of finance lease assets
Minimum lease payment
Within 1 year
1-5 years
Present value of minimum lease payment
42.1.2 The Group as finance lessor
Total lease investment and the present value of minimum lease payments as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Unearned interest income of finance lease as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, is as follows:
Total lease investment
Net lease investment
Unearned interest income
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42.2 Operating lease
42.2.1 The Group as operating lessee
The future minimum lease payments arising from the non-cancellable lease contracts as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Over 5 years
Minimum sublease payment
The lease payment reflected in profit or loss for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Lease payment reflected in profit or loss
Sublease payment
42.2.2 The Group as operating lessor
The future minimum lease receipts arising from the non-cancellable lease contracts as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Minimum lease receipts
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43. Related Party Transactions
Profit and loss arising from transactions with related parties for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Associates and Joint Ventures
Balhae Infrastructure Fund
UAMCO., Ltd.
United PF 1st Recovery Private Equity Fund1
IMM Investment 5th PRIVATE EQUITY FUND1
HIMS Co., Ltd.1
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KoFC POSCO HANHWA KB Shared Growth Private Equity Fund No. 2
KB Star Office Private Real Estate Investment Trust No.1
Inno Lending Co., Ltd. 1
KBIC Private Equity Fund No. 31
Kyobo 7 Special Purpose Acquisition Co., Ltd.1
Wise Asset Management Co., Ltd.
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COBI Co., Ltd.1
Dongjo Co., Ltd.
Bungaejangter. Inc.1
Faromancorporation Co., Ltd.1
Daesang Techlon Co., Ltd.1
JLK INSPECTION Inc.
TESTIAN Inc.
Rainist Co., Ltd.
IWON ALLOY CO., LTD.
RMGP Bio-Pharma Investment Fund, L.P.
Hasys.
Spark Biopharma, Inc.
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KB No.5 Special Purpose Acquisition Company
KB No.6 Special Purpose Acquisition Company
Other non-operating expense
KB No.7 Special Purpose Acquisition Company
KB No.8 Special Purpose Acquisition Company 1
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Hyundai-Tongyang Agrifood Private Equity Fund1
KB IGen Private Equity Fund No.1
Doosung Metal Co., Ltd.
Retirement pension
Meanwhile, the Group purchased installment financial assets from SY Auto Capital Co., Ltd. amounts to ￦ 838,010 million and ￦ 881,502 million for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018
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Details of receivables and payables, and related allowances for loan losses arising from the related party transactions as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Associates and joint ventures
Loans at amortized cost (Gross amount)
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Bungaejanter. Inc.1
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CARLIFE CO., LTD.
COMPUTERLIFE CO., LTD.
RMGP Bio-Pharma Investment, L.P.
SKYDIGITAL INC
HEYBIT, Inc.,
Stratio, Inc.
KB No.8 Special Purpose Acquisition Company1
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Key management
The amounts are not disclosed as the entity is excluded from the Group’s related party as of December 31, 2018.
According to IAS 24, the Group includes associates, key management (including family members), and post-employment benefit plans of the Group and its related party companies in the scope of related parties. Additionally, the Group discloses balances (receivables and payables) and other amounts arising from the related party transactions in the notes to the consolidated financial statements. Refer to Note 13 for details on investments in associates and joint ventures.
Significant lending transactions with related parties for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Associates
KB Insurance Co., Ltd.2
Inno Lending Co., Ltd.2
Bungaejanter. Inc.2
KB No.8 Special Purpose Acquisition Company2
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Transactions from operating activities with related parties (i.e. such as settlement, daily overdraft loans, etc.) are excluded.
Excluded from the Group’s related party as of December 31, 2018.
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Significant borrowing transactions with related parties for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Daesang Techlon Co., Ltd.2
Ejade Co., Ltd.2
KBIC Private Equity Fund No. 32
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KB-KDBC New Technology Business Fund
Key management3
Transactions from operating activities with related parties (i.e. such as settlement, deposit on demand, etc.) are netted.
Represents the transactions have started occurring since the current year.
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Significant investment and collection transaction with related parties for the year ended December 31, 2018 is as follows:
KB-KDBC Pre-IPONew Technology Business Fund
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Unused commitments to related parties as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Unused commitments of credit card
Loan commitments in Korean won
Compensation to key management for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
Registered directors (executive)
Registered directors (non-executive)
Non-registered directors
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Collateral received from related parties as of December 31, 2017 and 2018, are as follows:
KB Star Office Private RealEstate Investment Trust No.1
As of December 31, 2018, Incheon Bridge Co., Ltd., a related party, provides fund management account, insurance for civil engineering completion, and management rights as senior collateral amounting to ￦ 611,000 million to a financial syndicate that consists of the Group and five other institutions, and as subordinated collateral amounting to ￦ 384,800 million to subordinated debt holders that consist of the Group and two other institutions. Also, it provides certificate of credit guarantee amounting to ￦ 400,000 million as collateral to a financial syndicate consisting of the Group and five other institutions.
44. Business Combination
On July 6, 2018, the Group obtained control over KB Daehan Specialized Bank (which was renamed from Tomato Specialized Bank in March 2018) in Cambodia by acquiring 90% share of interests.
Regarding the business combination above, the amounts of the consideration transferred and the assets and liabilities acquired at the acquisition date are as follows:
Consideration
Cash and cash equivalents
Recognized amounts of identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed
Cash and Due from financial institutions
Total Assets
Total identifiable net assets
Non-controlling interest
As a result of business combination goodwill has been recognized, and the Group has accounted for as an intangible asset in the consolidated financial statements.
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45. Application of IFRS 9 Financial Instruments and IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers
The Group has applied IFRS 9 Financial Instruments and IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers, which was issued on September 25, 2015, for the first time for their annual reporting period commencing January 1, 2018. Impact of the application of IFRS 9 and IFRS 15 on the Group’s consolidated financial statements is as follows:
The Group’s categories and carrying amounts of financial assets per IAS 39 and IFRS 9 as of the initial application date are as follows:
Measurement categories
December 31, 2017
(IAS 39)
January 1, 2018(IFRS 9)
Financial assets designated at fair value through profit or loss3
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Available-for-salefinancial assets: debt securities
Available-for-sale financial assets: equity securities
In accordance with IFRS 4, the Group has designated the financial assets related with insurance contract (cash and due from financial institutions amounting to ￦ 186,293 million, loans amounting to ￦ 587 million, available-for-sale financial assets amounting to ￦ 6,349,091 million, and held-to-maturity investments amounting to ￦ 57,386 million) to use overlay approach. Regarding the designated financial assets, the Group has reclassified the profit or loss amount that the Group would have applied ISA 39, instead of IFRS 9.
Financial assets amounting to ￦ 2,050,052 million under ISA 39, which were classified as financial assets designated at fair value through profit or loss, have been reclassified to financial assets at fair value through profit or loss by applying IFRS 9, without designation of fair value option.
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The Group’s categories and carrying amounts of financial liability per ISA 39 and IFRS 9 as of the initial application date are as follows:
Derivative instruments designated as fair value hedge
Derivative instruments
designated as fair value hedge
Financial liabilities at amortized cost
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The carrying amounts of the categories of financial assets per IFRS 9 as of the initial application date are as follows:
Derivative instruments designated for trading
On January 1, 2018 (the date of the initial application of IFRS 9), there were no financial assets at fair value through profit or loss reclassified to financial assets at amortized cost or financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income.
On January 1, 2018 (the date of the initial application of IFRS 9), the Group classified certain financial assets, other than financial assets at amortized cost as at January 1, 2018, to amortized cost as follows:
Measurement categories beforereclassification
Currency stabilization bond
Asset backed securities
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The reconciliation of the ending allowances/provision in accordance with IAS 39 to the opening allowances in accordance with IFRS 9 is as follows:
Available-for-sale
Held-to-maturitysecurities
Unused commitments and guarantees
On January 1, 2018 (the date of the initial application of IFRS 9 and IFRS 15), the impact on other comprehensive income due to financial liabilities designated at fair value through profit or loss is as follows:
December 31, 2017 (before adoption of IFRS 9)
Valuation loss from own credit risk of financial liabilities designated at fair value through profit or loss
January 1, 2018 (after adoption of IFRS 9)
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On January 1, 2018 (the date of the initial application of IFRS 9), the impact on other comprehensive income due to financial assets designated at fair value through other comprehensive income and others is as follows:
Change of classification/subsequent measurement category: available for sale to financial assets at amortized cost
Change of classification/subsequent measurement category: available for sale to financial assets at fair value through profit or loss
Reclassification of valuation gain or loss of derivatives from equity securities at other comprehensive income
Recognition of expected credit losses on debt securities at other comprehensive income
Reversal of impairment on equity securities at other comprehensive income
Changes in other comprehensive income of associates and joint ventures
Application of overlay approach
Adjustment of shares between contracting party
On January 1, 2018 (the date of the initial application of IFRS 9 and IFRS 15), the impact on retained earnings is as follows:
Reversal of impairment loss on equity securities at other comprehensive income
Changes in gains or losses on equity method for investments in associates and joint ventures
Effect of adjustment in convertible private bond
Valuation of fair value of structured deposits and debts
Application of expected credit losses on financial assets at amortized cost
Effect of changes in provision for unused commitment, etc.
Valuation loss from self-credit-risk of financial liabilities designated at fair value through profit or loss
Effect of Retained Earnings by application of IFRS 151
The Group has applied the revenue recognition with distinguishing between the duty to perform management and agency service for fee.
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46. Approval of Issuance of the Financial Statements
The issuance of the Group’s consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2018, was initially approved on February 8, 2019 and re-approved due to revision on March 8, 2019 by the Board of Directors.
47. Parent Company Information
The following tables present the Parent Company Only financial information:
Condensed Statements of Financial Position
Investments in subsidiaries1
Banking subsidiaries
Nonbanking subsidiaries.
Investments in associate1
Liabilities and shareholders’ equity
Shareholders’ equity
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
Investments in subsidiaries and associate were accounted at cost method in accordance with IAS 27.
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Condensed Statements of Comprehensive Income
Income
Dividends from subsidiaries
Dividends from an associate
Interest from subsidiaries
Other income
Total income
Expense
Non-interest expense
Total expense
Profit(loss) before tax expense
Tax income(expense)
Profit(loss) for the year
Condensed Statements of Cash Flows
Operating activities
Net income
Reconciliation of net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Other operating activities, net
Investing activities
Net payments from (to) subsidiaries
Other investing activities, net
Financing activities
Net increase(decrease) in debts
Increases in debentures
Repayments of debentures
Cash dividends paid
Net increase in cash held at bank subsidiaries
Cash and cash equivalents subsidiaries at January 1
Cash and cash equivalents subsidiaries at December 31
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