[THE INVESTOR] Foreign investor are maintaining a strong appetite for Hana Financial Group, a major South Korean banking group, while overseas holders have reduced exposure to other Korean bank stocks as ongoing corporate restructuring weighs on local lenders.

Foreign holdings of Hana Financial Group shares rose 0.9 percentage points during the past three months, from 64.8 percent in March to 65.7 percent in June. Foreigners bought some 3.27 million of Hana stocks since mid-March.

In stark to contrast, they are shunning stocks of KB Financial Group and Industrial Bank of Korea. During the same period, foreign investors’ holdings declined by 0.8 percent points for both KB and IBK. 

Analysts said the rising stake of foreigners in Hana comes as its subsidiary KEB Hana Bank reduced the amount of loans to large firms.

According to Daishin Securities, the lender’s loans earmarked for large firms in the second half of 2016 will account for 22.6 percent of its outstanding loans, down 12.1 percentage points from 34.7 percent in the first quarter.

“Credit risks related to large conglomerates are likely to be lowered as the banks seek to cut exposure to the firms significantly,” said Choi Jung-wook, analyst at Daishin Securities.

Some troubled Korean companies in shipbuilding, shipping and other sectors are currently undergoing restructuring program as they are hit hard by a slump in exports and sluggish local spending.

According to data from the Financial Supervisory Service, Korean banks’ nonperforming loans have soared to a 15-year high, reaching 31.3 trillion won as of end-March.

By Park Han-na (hnpark@heraldcorp.com)