Hanwha Asset Management Lists "PLUS Global Copyright Core Companies Active" ETF

Highlighting the Value of Original IP in the AI Era
Focus on Subscription Platforms, IP, and AI Data
Investing in 25 Leading Global Companies Including Netflix and Disney

Hanwha Asset Management announced on March 31 that it will newly list the "PLUS Global Copyright Core Companies Active" Exchange Traded Fund (ETF), which invests in leading global copyright companies.

The "PLUS Global Copyright Core Companies Active" ETF is an overseas equity active ETF that invests in 25 global copyright core companies with three profit engines: subscription platforms, intellectual property (IP) originators, and AI data licensing.

This product focuses on the fact that global subscription platforms have entered a phase of expanding profitability. Netflix demonstrated its profitability last year with an operating margin of 29.5%, while Walt Disney's OTT platform "Disney Plus" achieved a turnaround to profit in its own streaming segment. The fund highlights the strong defensive nature of platforms with monthly subscription fees ranging from $10 to $20.

Additionally, it emphasizes that companies with strong intellectual property (IP) can generate revenue through royalties without incurring additional production costs. According to last year's report by the International Licensing Industry Merchandisers' Association, the global licensing industry's annual retail sales in 2024 were estimated at approximately $369.6 billion. Of this, the entertainment and character sector accounted for $149.8 billion (40.5%), making up the largest share.

Another key point is that original IP assets are now used as training data in the AI era. Reddit, the world's largest online community with hundreds of millions of monthly active users (MAU), signed an annual data licensing contract with Google worth around $60 million. News Corporation, the world's largest media group, entered into a news content licensing agreement with OpenAI worth over $250 million for five years.

As of the listing date, major components of the ETF include: Netflix, Walt Disney, Spotify, Sony Group, Comcast, Take-Two, Reddit, Tencent, Amazon, and The New York Times.

Hanwha Asset Management plans to pursue excess returns by continuously monitoring events that directly impact stock prices—such as corporate acquisitions, AI licensing agreements, copyright litigation rulings, and regulatory implementations—and adjusting portfolio weights accordingly.

Jeongseop Geum, Head of ETF Business Division at Hanwha Asset Management, stated, "In the era of AI, infrastructure and models are becoming increasingly commoditized, but original IP that cannot be replicated by competitors is actually becoming more valuable. Now is an opportune time to invest in global copyright core companies, as the three profit engines of subscription platform profitability, structurally high returns from IP licensing, and AI training data licensing are all operating simultaneously."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.