KEPCO Surges More Than 8% on Hopes of Westinghouse Equity Investment [Stock in Focus]

[Financial News] Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) was up more than 8% in intraday trading. Buying picked up as expectations grew for expanded nuclear exports after reports that the United States government had proposed an equity investment in Westinghouse Electric Company (WEC).
At 9:54 a.m. on the 26th in the KOSPI market, KEPCO was trading at 35,450 won, up 8.41% from the previous session.
The catalyst behind the stock rally was the possibility of an equity investment in Westinghouse Electric Company. According to industry sources, the United States government recently proposed that the Korean side jointly acquire Westinghouse Electric Company shares owned by a Canadian private equity fund. The Ministry of Trade and Industry and KEPCO are reportedly reviewing the investment structure and funding methods.
The market is watching closely for any shift in the U.S.-Korea nuclear cooperation framework if the equity investment becomes a reality. If Korean companies secure a stake in Westinghouse Electric Company in exchange for participating in U.S. nuclear plant construction projects, both sides would share common interests. There is also hope that Korea could gain greater leverage in negotiations over export controls and intellectual property issues, which have been sticking points in nuclear export deals.
Earlier, KHNP and KEPCO signed a long-term agreement with Westinghouse Electric Company in January last year. The deal required them to provide royalties and service purchases worth more than 100 billion won for each nuclear reactor exported, while effectively limiting their independent entry into advanced markets such as Europe.
However, it remains unclear whether the plan will lead to an actual investment. The Ministry of Trade and Industry officially denied the report, saying that claims about South Korea and the United States jointly contributing capital to acquire a stake in Westinghouse Electric Company were "not true."
[email protected] Kim Hyun-jung Reporter