Cash and cashable assets held by South Korea’s 72 listed companies reached nearly 115.7 trillion won ($113 billion), up 54 percent from late 2012, to suggest Korean companies have chosen to fatten their hoard instead of placing profits in new investments.
According to the Korea Exchange on Monday, 72 top Kospi-listed companies held a combined 115.7 trillion won in cash and cashable assets on a consolidated basis as of March 31. The list excludes financial companies and preferred stocks.
Their cash equivalent assets took up 6.07 percent of their combined assets of 1,908 trillion won, up sharply from 4.71 percent at the end of 2014.
Samsung Electronics Co. was most cash-rich, sitting on a hoard of 27.6 trillion won, which made up 10.4 percent of its total assets. SK came second with 8.4 trillion won in its cash and cashable asset account followed by Hyundai Motor with 6.5 trillion won and Hyundai Heavy Industries with 3.98 trillion won.
Naver had the highest portion - 28.8 percent - of cash and cashable assets against total assets.
Cash and cash equivalent asset includes not only cash but short-term investment as well that are kept in reserve for general operation and investment uses.
By Shin Heon-cheol
[ⓒ Pulse by Maeil Business News Korea & mk.co.kr, All rights reserved]