S.Korea Kybo Sec eyes rights offer or JV partner

SEOUL, March 6 (Reuters) - South Korea's Kyobo Securities Co Ltd (030610.KS: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) is a mulling rights offering, or combining with an outside partner to turn the brokerage house into a joint venture, its top shareholder said on Thursday.

"Under the (upcoming) Capital Markets Integration Act, Kyobo Securities has a task to build up its competitiveness," Chang Jae Shin, chief executive of Kyobo Life Insurance told reporters.

Kyobo Life owned 51.63 percent in Kyobo Securities as of end-2007.

"We are considering a variety of options, including a rights offering, having an outside partner to make it a joint venture, or bolstering management staff," he said.

(Reporting by Kim Yeon-hee; Editing by Keiron Henderson)