
Overview
Iksoo Kim is a partner in the Corporate practice of Paul Hastings and is based in the Seoul office.
Mr. Kim regularly represents issuers and underwriters in a wide variety of capital markets transactions, including registered and unregistered offerings of equity, debt and hybrid securities by U.S. and Korean corporations, banks, and governmental entities. He also has broad experience representing strategic and private equity clients in a number of domestic and cross-border M&A transactions.
Mr. Kim was formerly an investment banker at Lehman Brothers, and is a CFA charterholder.
Recognitions
- Chambers Asia-Pacific (Since 2017)
- Chambers Global (Since 2017)
- IFLR 1000 (Since 2019)
- The Legal 500 Asia Pacific, Leading Individual (2022)
- Asian Legal Business, Dealmakers of Asia (2020)
Education
- Columbia Law School, J.D. (James Kent Scholar; Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar), 2008
- London School of Economics, M.Sc. in Economics (with Distinction), 2001
- Seoul National University, B.A. in Economics (with honors), 2000
Representations
Initial Public Offerings
- Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd., the world's largest shipbuilder, on its US$923 million global offering and listing on the Korea Exchange. Credit Suisse, Korea Investment & Securities and Mirae Asset Securities acted as the joint global coordinators and joint bookrunners.
- KakaoBank in connection with its US$2.2 billion initial public offering on the Korea Exchange. The transaction was awarded "Equity Deal of the Year" by International Financial Law Review.
- HK inno.N in connection with its US$523 million initial public offering on the KOSDAQ Market.
- J.P. Morgan, Mirae Asset, Credit Suisse and Korea Investment & Securities as underwriters in the US$2 billion global offering and listing on the Korea Exchange of SK ie technology, a subsidiary of SK Innovation and a leading South Korean manufacturer of lithium-ion battery separators and flexible cover windows.
- Big Hit Entertainment in connection with its US$827 million initial public offering on the Korea Exchange. This transaction is the largest IPO in Korea in 2020.*
- Psomagen in connection with its US$40 million initial public offering on the KOSDAQ Market.*
- Citigroup and Morgan Stanley as underwriters in connection with US$793 million initial public offering of SK Biopharmaceuticals on the Korea Exchange.*
- Citigroup as lead underwriter in connection with US$345 million initial public offering of Hanwha Systems on the Korea Exchange.*
- TissueGene in connection with its US$180 million initial public offering on the KOSDAQ Market.*
- Doosan Bobcat in connection with its US$783 million initial public offering on the Korea Exchange.*
- Citigroup, Credit Suisse and J.P. Morgan as underwriters in connection with US$2 billion initial public offering of Samsung BioLogics on the Korea Exchange.*
- Morgan Stanley, Nomura, Goldman Sachs and J.P. Morgan as underwriters in connection with US$1.1 billion dual-listed initial public offering of LINE Corporation on the New York Stock Exchange and Tokyo Stock Exchange.*
- Citigroup and Deutsche Bank as underwriters in connection with US$301 million initial public offering of Innocean Worldwide on the Korea Exchange.*
- Citigroup and J.P. Morgan as underwriters in connection with US$1.4 billion initial public offering of Cheil Industries on the Korea Exchange.*
- Hyundai Rotem Company in connection with its US$585 million initial public offering on the Korea Exchange.*
- Morgan Stanley, BofA Merrill Lynch and Wells Fargo as underwriters in connection with US$806 million initial public offering of Swift Transportation on the New York Stock Exchange.*
Other Equity or Equity-Linked Securities Transactions
- LG Display in connection with its offering of US$687.8 million 1.50% convertible bonds.*
- Hyundai Heavy Industries in connection with its offering of US$222 million zero coupon exchangeable bonds, exchangeable for common shares of Hyundai Merchant Marine and guaranteed by The Korea Development Bank.*
- J.P. Morgan in connection with the offering of US$300 million convertible bonds by Celltrion.*
- Deutsche Bank and Goldman Sachs in connection with US$150 million offering of global depositary shares by Kolao Holdings.*
- Placement agents and selling shareholders in connection with a number of block trade transactions in Korea.*
Debt Securities Transactions
- Issuers, arrangers, dealers and initial purchasers in connection with numerous Rule 144A and/or Regulation S debt offerings under global medium-term note (GMTN) or euro medium-term note (EMTN) programs of various Korean government-owned entities and financial institutions, including Hana Bank, Hyundai Capital Services, Busan Bank, Shinhan Bank*, Korea Railroad Corporation*, Korea Land & Housing Corporation*, Korea Gas Corporation* and Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power.*
- Hanwha Energy USA Holdings Corporation, a comprehensive energy solutions provider in solar power projects in the U.S., on its issuance of US$300 million 4.125% Senior Green Bonds due 2025, guaranteed by Export-Import Bank of Korea.
- Hanwha Solutions, a total solutions company in chemicals, energy and advanced materials in South Korea, on its debut issuance of US$153 million 3% dim sum green bonds with a three-year tranche in Hong Kong. Standard Chartered acted as the sole bookrunner, lead arranger and green structuring adviser.
- KEB Hana Bank in connection with the establishment of US$5 billion global covered bond programme and the offering of EUR500 million 0.010% social covered bonds.*
- Korea Development Bank, Nomura, Standard Chartered and UBS in connection with the offering of US$300 million 1.00% guaranteed senior- unsecured notes by Doosan Infracore, guaranteed by The Korea Development Bank.*
- HSBC, Korea Development Bank and Société Générale in connection with the offering of US$300 million 2.25% senior-unsecured notes by Doosan Infracore, guaranteed by The Korea Development Bank.*
- Hanwha Energy USA, d/b/a 174 Power Global, as issuer and The Korea Development Bank as guarantor in connection with the offering of US$300 million 2.375% senior-unsecured green bonds.*
- Korea Development Bank and Société Générale in connection with the offering of US$300 million 3.875% senior-unsecured green bonds by LG Display, guaranteed by The Korea Development Bank.*
- KDB Life Insurance in connection with its offering of US$200 million 7.5% subordinated capital securities.*
- Barclays, Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan and UBS in connection with the offering of US$300 million subordinated capital securities by SK E&S.*
- Indochina Bank in connection with its private placement of US$50 million secured bonds to CASCOF Holdings, L.P., an affiliate of The Carlyle Group.*
- J.P. Morgan, Morgan Stanley and HSBC in connection with the offering of US$500 million 2.125% notes by Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction, guaranteed by The Export-Import Bank of Korea.*
- Kolao Holdings in connection with its offering of Singapore-dollar denominated senior-unsecured bonds guaranteed by the Credit Guarantee and Investment Facility (a trust fund of the Asian Development Bank).*
- BNP Paribas, Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley and Standard Chartered in connection with the offering of US$300 million 2.00% notes by Korea Water Resources Corporation.*
- Barclays, Citigroup, Deutsche Bank and NatWest in connection with the offering of US$300 million 1.875% notes by Korea Southern Power.*
- Sirius XM Radio in connection with its offering of US$800 million senior notes.*
- Sealy Corporation in connection with a series of debt refinancing transactions, including issuance of US$350 million senior-secured first lien notes and completion of a new asset-based revolving credit facility.*
Mergers and Acquisitions
- Jaguar Global Growth Corporation I (Nasdaq: JGGC, JGGCR, and JGGCW) in connection with their business combination with GLAAM, Co., Ltd., a Korean designer and manufacturer of architectural display glass, for a pro forma enterprise value of $309 million (pending).
- Hanwha Aerospace in its strategic investment in Hanwha Phasor, a UK satellite communications company.
- SD Biosensor and SJL Partners in connection with their US$1.53 billion acquisition of Meridian Bioscience, Inc. (NASDAQ: VIVO), a leading global provider of diagnostic testing solutions and life science raw materials. The transaction was awarded “Cross-border M&A Deal of the Year” by Law.com International Asia Legal Awards.
- Hanwha Systems in its US$300 million strategic investment in OneWeb Holdings Limited, a global low earth orbit (LEO) satellite communications company headquartered in the United Kingdom.
- HYBE (formerly Big Hit Entertainment) on its US$1 billion acquisition of Ithaca Holdings, a fully integrated media company with interests across music, tech, film, television, brands and culture. Ithaca Holdings is led by Scooter Braun, who manages global pop stars including Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande. The transaction was awarded "TMT Deal of the Year" by Asian Legal Business.
- Momentive Performance Materials in its acquisition of the silicones business from KCC Corporation.*
- Hanwha Systems in its strategic investment in Kymeta Corporation, a U.S.-based developer of satellite communication systems.*
- Hanwha Systems in its acquisition of the businesses and assets of Phasor Solutions Limited, a U.K.-based developer of satellite communications antenna system.*
- SJL Partners, KCC Corporation and Wonik Holdings in connection with their US$3.1 billion acquisition of MPM Holdings (Momentive), a leading global specialty chemicals and materials company based in Waterford, NY. The transaction was awarded “Korea M&A Deal of the Year” by Asian Legal Business.*
- Hanwha in connection with its acquisition of a solar energy power plant in Minnesota, United States.*
- The Blackstone Group in its US$300 million acquisition of a 30% stake in Simone, a leading Korean manufacturer of luxury fashion goods.*
- Tyco International in connection with its US$1.93 billion sale of Korean security business to The Carlyle Group.*
- Woori-Blackstone Fund in connection with its minority investment in NS Shopping.*
- Blackstone Real Estate Partners in connection with its sale of Korean commercial real estate portfolios.*
- Charles Schwab in connection with its US$1 billion acquisition of optionsXpress Holdings.*
- The Blackstone Group in connection with its US$9.4 billion acquisition of U.S. shopping mall business of Centro Properties Group.*
- Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, Silver Lake Partners and Technology Crossover Ventures in connection with a strategic partnership with The Go Daddy Group.*
- L-3 Communications in connection with its spin-off of Engility, a government services company.*
- JPMorgan Chase in connection with its sale of credit card assets to GE Capital Retail Consumer Finance.*
- Bank of Nova Scotia in connection with its US$5.6 billion acquisition of banking operations of R-G Premier Bank of Puerto Rico from the FDIC.*
- Celulosa Arauco y Constitución in its US$227 million acquisition of Tafisa Brasil.*
* Matter handled prior to joining the firm.
news
- Paul Hastings Advised Managers in Hana Bank’s EUR600 Million SME Empowerment Social Covered Bonds - May 16th, 2023
- Paul Hastings Advised in Korea Ocean Business Corporation’s Debut Issuance of US$300 Million Senior Unsecured Notes - May 12th, 2023
- Paul Hastings Recognized in Financial Times Innovative Lawyers Asia-Pacific 2023 Report - May 11th, 2023
- Paul Hastings Advised L&F in its Debut Issuance of US$500 Million Convertible Bonds - May 11th, 2023
- Paul Hastings Shortlisted for Four Awards at FT Innovative Lawyers Awards Asia 2023 - April 14th, 2023
- Paul Hastings Advises Jaguar Global Growth Corporation I in Business Combination with GLAAM - March 3rd, 2023
- Paul Hastings Advised SD Biosensor and SJL Partners in Acquisition of Meridian Bioscience - February 6th, 2023
- Paul Hastings Again Receives Top Rankings in the 2023 Edition of The Legal 500 Asia Pacific - January 19th, 2023
- Paul Hastings Again Ranked in 2023 Chambers Asia-Pacific - December 20th, 2022
- Paul Hastings Advises Shareholder Hanwha Systems on Proposed Combination between OneWeb and Eutelsat - July 28th, 2022
- Hanwha Energy USA Holdings Corporation Completes Issuance of US$300 Million Guaranteed Senior Green Bonds - July 6th, 2022
- Hana Bank Completes Issuance of US$600 Million Senior Unsecured Sustainability Notes - April 7th, 2022
- Paul Hastings Wins “Equity Team of the Year” and “Equity Deal of the Year” at IFLR Asia-Pacific Awards 2022 - March 18th, 2022
- Hyundai Capital Issues Dual-Tranche Bonds Totaling US$700 Million - February 22nd, 2022
- Paul Hastings Recognized by Chambers Global 2022 - February 21st, 2022
- Paul Hastings Recognized at Asia Business Law Journal’s Korea Law Firm Awards - December 9th, 2021
- Paul Hastings Honored with TMT Deal of the Year at ALB Korea Law Awards 2021 - December 3rd, 2021
- Paul Hastings Recognized as Top Asia-related SPAC Legal Adviser in Asia Business Law Journal League Table - December 2nd, 2021
- Hyundai Heavy Industries Completes US$923 Million IPO and Listing on the Korea Exchange - September 17th, 2021
- Hyundai Capital to Issue Dim Sum Bonds - August 16th, 2021
Recognitions
- Paul Hastings Recognized in Financial Times Innovative Lawyers Asia-Pacific 2023 Report - May 11th, 2023
- Paul Hastings Shortlisted for Four Awards at FT Innovative Lawyers Awards Asia 2023 - April 14th, 2023
- Paul Hastings Again Receives Top Rankings in the 2023 Edition of The Legal 500 Asia Pacific - January 19th, 2023
- Paul Hastings Again Ranked in 2023 Chambers Asia-Pacific - December 20th, 2022
- Paul Hastings Recognized by Chambers Global 2022 - February 21st, 2022
Involvement
- Member, New York State Bar Association
- Member, CFA Institute
- Foreign Legal Consultant, Republic of Korea