Kakao Bank shares surge nearly 80% in Seoul market debut

South Korean digital lender becomes most valuable listed financial stock

20210805 kakaobank

Kakao Bank is South Korea's biggest digital lender. (Screenshot of Kakao Bank's app).

KIM JAEWON, Nikkei staff writer

SEOUL -- Kakao Bank shares soared Friday in their debut on South Korea's benchmark stock exchange, rising almost 80% and making the upstart digital lender the country's most valuable listed financial company.

Kakao Bank had raised 2.6 trillion won ($2.3 billion) in its IPO, offering 65 million shares and making it the second-largest stock flotation so far this year. Krafton, a game developer, raised 4.3 trillion won in its IPO earlier this week and will be listed on the Kospi index on Tuesday.

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