Korea Investment & Securities (KIS) (071050.KS) signed strategic partnerships with major global asset managers Fidelity, PIMCO and Carlyle, expanding its international footprint in research, equities, fixed income and alternative investments, according to Korea Times.

The deals reflect a push by South Korean brokerages to secure top-tier foreign expertise and offer domestic investors direct access to global markets as demand for international portfolio diversification grows.

The Seoul-based firm began its signing spree on September 8 in London, partnering with Fidelity, which manages $7.8 trillion in assets. KIS gains exclusive rights to distribute Fidelity's investment research in South Korea. The two companies are also developing a joint tech fund focused on Korean, Chinese and US markets.

On September 9 in New York, KIS signed separate pacts with PIMCO and Carlyle.

The agreement with fixed-income manager PIMCO, which controls $2.33 trillion in assets, centres on expanding discretionary asset management. KIS will supply PIMCO's research and funds to domestic clients while developing customised products, including separately managed accounts and wrap products.

KIS also signed a discretionary asset management deal with private equity giant Carlyle to run short-term money market vehicles. The two institutions have collaborated since 2023.

The partnerships stem from KIS's strategy to turn international networking into commercial deals. The company has built connections through its "KIS Night" investor relations events, held in financial hubs like New York and Hong Kong since 2024.

KIS Chief Executive Miller Sung-hwan Kim said connecting global IR outreach to personal products for clients will ensure world-class financial services are accessible in South Korea.