Company: SHG
Filing Date: 2025-04-23
Form Type: 20-F
Source: 0001193125-25-089950
Chunk: 207

Company: SHINHAN FINANCIAL GROUP CO LTD
Filing Date: 2025-04-23
Form: 20-F
Chunk 207
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 difficult for a financial institution to explore a new line of business or expand upon its existing line of business. For example, a financial institution licensed as a securities company generally could not engage in the asset management business. In contrast, under the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act, pursuant to the integration of its current business 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 compliance with the relevant regulations, for example, maintaining an adequate “Ethical Screens,” to the extent required. As to incidental businesses (i.e., 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 system of permitting only the listed activities towards a more comprehensive system. In addition, a Financial Investment Company is permitted (i) to outsource marketing activities by contracting with “introducing brokers” that are individuals but not employees of the Financial Investment Company, (ii) to engage in foreign exchange business related to their Financial Investment Business and (iii) to 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 broadens the scope of financial businesses in which financial institutions are permitted to engage, a more rigorous investor-protection mechanism is**

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**imposed upon Financial Investment Companies dealing in financial investment products. The Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act makes a distinction between general investors and sophisticated investors and provides new or enhanced protections to general investors. For instance, the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act expressly provides for strict know-your-customer rules for general investors and imposes an obligation on Financial Investment Companies that they should market financial investment products suitable to each general investor considering his or her personal attributes, including investment objective, net worth, and investment experience. Under the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act, a Financial Investment Company can be held liable if a general investor proves (i) damages or losses relating to such general investor’s investment in financial investment products solicited by such Financial Investment Company and (ii) absence of explanation, false explanation, or omission of material fact (without having to prove fault or causation). In case there are any conflicts of interest between the 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 (