Tiger

What Tiger does

Tiger Asset Management Investment (타이거자산운용투자일임) is a Seoul-based Korean hedge fund and asset management firm founded in December 2013 by Lee Jae-wan. The firm operates a multi-strategy hedge fund platform investing across eight asset classes — domestic and foreign equities (long/short), bonds, mezzanine, derivatives, ETFs, fund re-investments, IPOs, and venture capital — with a stated objective of delivering positive annual returns in all market environments. Investment decisions flow through a multi-manager committee system in which approximately twenty portfolio managers collectively analyze roughly 100 listed stocks per portfolio across five investment styles, supported by a research program of 150+ monthly company visits and ~1,800 company analyses per year.

The firm generates revenue exclusively through performance-based fees (typically 20% above hurdle rates of 2.5%), charging no base or management fees, and co-invests its own substantial proprietary capital alongside client assets. This alignment model extends to profit/loss differential structured products where Tiger's own capital absorbs first losses. Distribution is concentrated through the private banking (PB) retail networks of major Korean securities firms — Korea Investment Securities, KB Securities, NH Investment Securities, Samsung Securities, and Hana Securities — supplemented by direct discretionary mandate sales (TIGER Hybrid Equity, TIGER High Yield Bond) to HNW clients and, since January 2025, public fund wrappers offered through a partnership with iM Asset Management.

As of April 2026, Tiger reported KRW 39,249B in accumulated AUM and setting-principal AUM of KRW 1,974B at end-2025, which had grown 166% YoY, making it the #1 Korean hedge fund by net new asset growth. The firm became the first Korean general private fund (PEF) manager to surpass KRW 1 trillion in full-year net profit in 2025, with total equity capital of KRW 1,284B. Beyond core fund management, Tiger acquired 100% of Daewoong (Mutual) Savings Bank in 2021 for KRW 155B, signaling diversification into banking. Leadership transitioned from founder Lee Jae-wan (99.7% owner) to Kim Gwon as Representative Director in 2024–2025 following regulatory sanctions, with Lee retained as team leader.

Name

Tiger

Legal name

타이거자산운용투자일임 주식회사

Website

https://tigerinv.co.kr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Tiger Asset Management Investment (타이거자산운용투자일임) is a Seoul-based Korean hedge fund and asset management firm operating multi-strategy funds and discretionary mandates across eight asset classes for Korean high-net-worth individuals and institutional clients, using a performance-fee-only model with proprietary capital co-investment and distribution through major securities firm private banking networks.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hedge Fund Management

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (52394), Other Investment Pools and Funds (5259)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Thematic / Sector-Focused Multi-Manager Platforms (FSANAGAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Regional / Country-Focused Multi-Manager Platforms (FSANAGAI), Managed Account Platforms (Separately Managed Accounts / Customized Portfolios) (FSAHAKAC)

Keywords

• Hedge fund management
• Alternative investments
• Multi-strategy funds
• Discretionary investment
• Asset management

Headquarters

HQ city

Seoul

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Performance-based fees (성과보수): Tiger does NOT charge base/management fees. It only earns performance fees when investment returns exceed agreed benchmarks. For discretionary accounts: 20% of returns above 2.5% hurdle rate. For hedge funds: 20% performance fee on returns above benchmark. This aligns firm incentives directly with client outcomes and is a key differentiator in the Korean market.
2. Proprietary Capital Investment (고유계정 투자/PI): Tiger invests its own capital into its own funds alongside client assets. This proprietary investing (self-funding, seeding) generates direct investment returns and also serves as risk capital that absorbs first losses in structured (profit/loss differential) fund products, creating a 'skin in the game' alignment.
3. Fund Management Fees (펀드 수수료): From private fund operations, primarily performance-based. Base management fees are not charged. Revenue is heavily concentrated in performance fees collected when fund returns exceed targets.
4. Discretionary Account Management Fees: Discretionary investment management services for HNW clients (TIGER Hybrid Equity, TIGER High Yield Bond products). Fees are purely performance-based with no base fee.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Tiger is a Korean hedge fund and alternative asset manager that invests client capital across 8 asset classes (domestic/foreign equities, bonds, mezzanine, derivatives, ETFs, fund-of-fund re-investments, and IPOs) through multi-strategy hedge funds and discretionary investment accounts. The firm operates on a pure performance-fee basis — it charges no base management fees and earns only when client returns exceed agreed hurdles — and supplements this with its own proprietary capital as first-loss risk capital in structured products. Target customers are Korean high-net-worth individuals and selected institutional investors, distributed primarily through major Korean securities firms' private banking networks.

Product overview

타이거자산운용 is a Korean hedge fund and asset management firm offering a diversified portfolio of investment products and discretionary investment services. The core offering consists of multi-asset strategy hedge funds investing across 8 asset classes (domestic/overseas equities, bonds, mezzanine, derivatives, ETFs, FoF, IPO), supplemented by KOSDAQ venture funds, mezzanine funds, and IPO-high yield bond funds. The company also provides two discretionary investment services: TIGER Hybrid Equity (stock-mixed) and TIGER High Yield Bond, both structured to generate stable absolute returns through value-based investment strategies. The firm operates on a performance-based fee model without charging base management fees.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Multi-Strategy Hedge Fund (멀티전략 헤지펀드) A multi-asset strategy hedge fund that invests across 8 asset classes (domestic/foreign equities, bonds, mezzanine, derivatives, ETFs, FoF, and IPOs) using both top-down and bottom-up risk hedging to deliver long-term stable returns for Korean high-net-worth and institutional investors.
• KOSDAQ Venture Fund (코스닥 벤처 펀드) A policy-oriented fund targeting KOSDAQ market revitalization, providing 30% priority allocation for IPOs and income tax deduction benefits of up to KRW 3 million for Korean individual investors.
• Mezzanine Fund (메자닌 펀드) A hybrid financial product combining equity and bond characteristics that invests in mezzanine instruments (CB, BW, RCPS) selected through rigorous corporate analysis, targeting risk-adjusted excess returns for Korean investors.
• IPO High-Yield Bond Fund (공모주 하이일드 펀드) A high-yield bond fund that invests 60%+ in domestic bonds (including 45%+ sub-investment grade), supplemented by IPO allocation benefits and select stock investments, targeting stable yield for Korean investors.
• TIGER Hybrid Equity (타이거 주식혼합 투자일임형) A discretionary investment management service combining domestic listed stocks and ETFs, with research coverage of 150 companies monthly and investment in approximately 100 stocks across 5 investment styles. Requires minimum KRW 500M and 1-year contract.
• TIGER High Yield Bond (타이거 하이일드채권 투자일임형) A discretionary investment service allocating 60%+ to domestic bonds (45%+ sub-investment grade) with IPO participation for additional returns, focusing on issuer asset value and business value analysis. Requires minimum KRW 100M and charges 15% performance fee only.
• iM Asset Tiger Focus Securities Investment Trust (iM에셋-타이거 펀더멘털 포커스) Public Fund Wrapper A publicly distributed fund-of-hedge-funds vehicle wrapping Tiger's private hedge funds into a regulated public investment trust, made broadly accessible to Korean retail investors via iM Asset Management's distribution.

Quantifiable outcome

• Positive annual returns every year since 2013 founding — never a losing year on an annual basis
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• iM Asset Management (iM에셋자산운용)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2025Tiger partnered with iM Asset Management to create Korea's first public fund (사모투자재간접형 공모펀드) that wraps Tiger's private hedge funds into a public investment vehicle. The inaugural fund raised KRW 1,243B in 2 days, far exceeding its KRW 1,700B target, triggering soft closing. This is Tiger's debut in the public fund market and represents a major channel expansion. A second fund followed in January 2025. The partnership involved developing a novel accounting treatment (미지급항목 처리) for performance fees with Shinhan Fund Partners to ensure fair treatment of investors entering at different times.
• Shinhan Fund Partners (신한펀드파트너스)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerShinhan Fund Partners co-developed with Tiger and iM Asset Management the accounting treatment structure (미지급항목 처리) that allows Tiger's performance fees to be calculated daily and treated as an accounting liability rather than an immediate cash deduction, enabling fair treatment of investors entering at different times in the public re-investment fund structure.
• Korea Investment Securities / KB Securities / NH Investment Securities / Samsung Securities / Hana SecuritiescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTiger distributes its funds primarily through the retail networks of major Korean securities firms. These include Korea Investment Securities (historically the largest distributor, accounting for 26% of sales in 2023), KB Securities (distributed Harmony 545 fund), NH Investment Securities (prime broker and distributor), Samsung Securities (prime broker), and Hana Securities (exclusive distributor of multiple Kosdaq venture funds). These relationships are Tiger's primary go-to-market channel.
• Korea Investment Securities (PBS/Prime Brokerage)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKorea Investment Securities serves as Tiger's Prime Brokerage Services (PBS) partner for multiple funds, providing custody, financing, and operational support. Tiger has PBS relationships with multiple securities firms including NH Investment Securities, Samsung Securities, Mirae Asset Securities, and KB Securities.
• Korea Investment Securities / DB Securities (Target-Return Fund Distribution)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKorea Investment Securities and DB Securities have served as retail distribution channels for Tiger's 'target-return' (목표달성형) structured funds. The 'Tiger Target Achievement Clean 562' fund was distributed via Korea Investment Securities retail (KRW 550B of KRW 632B total), with KRW 82B from Tiger's own capital.
• KB Securities (PBS — First Contract)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTiger signed its first PBS (Prime Brokerage Services) contract with KB Securities for the 'Tiger Target Achievement TippingPoint3' fund (KRW 132B, February 2023). KB Securities is the #1 PBS provider in Korea with KRW 116.2 trillion in PBS contracts (as of February 2023).
• Mirae Asset Securities / Quad Asset Management / Gu Do Asset Management / Nurbonoo Asset ManagementminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributoriM Asset Management's second public re-investment fund selected multiple Korean private fund managers (including Tiger's funds) alongside Mirae Asset Securities, Quad Asset Management, Gu Do Asset Management, and Nurbonoo Asset Management, combining them into a diversified public fund vehicle.
• Daewoong Savings Bank (대원저축은행)minorOthersTiger acquired 100% of Daewoong Savings Bank (경주-based) in 2021 for KRW 155B, planning to expand into deposit/loan services and use the bank's network to source SME lending and investment deal flow. This represents a strategic diversification into financial services beyond fund management.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Korea Investment Management (KIM): One of Korea's largest asset managers with strong alternative investment and private fund capabilities, distributed through Korea Investment Securities' PB network. Directly comparable as a top-tier Korean multi-asset manager with both retail and institutional reach.
• Hanwha Asset Management: Legacy brand of the asset management entity now operating as iM Asset Management, operating mutual fund products distributed to retail and HNW clients via Korean securities firms. Comparable alternative-AM operating model within the same regulatory and distribution environment as Tiger.
• Samsung Asset Management: Major Korean mutual fund and alternative investment manager, part of the Samsung Group conglomerate. Distributes via Samsung Securities (a Tiger partner) and competes for similar HNW absolute-return mandates at significant scale.
• Mirae Asset Global Investments: Korea's largest asset manager with broad retail mutual fund and alternative product offerings. Competes with Tiger via securities-firm distribution and increasingly through alternative fund products, though Mirae is significantly larger and broader in mandate.
• KB Asset Management (KBAM): Asset management arm of KB Financial Group offering mutual funds and alternative strategies distributed through KB Securities, which is also a Tiger distribution partner. Comparable as a Korean alternative AM with large retail/HNW channel.

Others

• Meritz Securities Asset Management Division: Korean financial group running alternative investment products distributed through Meritz Securities. Comparable as a securities-group-affiliated alternative asset management operation targeting Korean retail with structured products.
• Kiwoom Investment Asset Management: Korean asset manager with hedge fund capabilities whose parent group (Kiwoom Securities) is a Tiger peer employer for several team members. Competes in similar alternative products within Korean retail/HNW channel.
• Heungkuk Asset Management: Korean asset management firm offering hedge fund and alternative products and is mentioned as a former employer of Tiger team members. Operates in adjacent alternative-AM space with similar Korean distribution channels.

Direct peers

• AlpenRoute Asset Management: Independent Korean alternative asset management firm known for multi-strategy hedge fund offerings to HNW clients. Closely comparable in business model (multi-manager, multi-asset, performance-fee-based) to Tiger, though smaller in scale.
• iM Asset Management: Korean public/private asset management firm spun out from Hanwha Investment & Securities that co-developed Korea's first public fund-of-funds wrapping Tiger's hedge funds in Jan 2025. Same Korean HNW/retail channel, competing for performance-driven alternative mandates, and directly partnered with Tiger, making it the most directly comparable peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/tigerinv.co.kr

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Tiger