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 (Since 2022)
- The In-House Community, Commended External Counsel of the Year (2023)
- The Financial Times Innovative Lawyers Asia Pacific, Innovative Individual Practitioners (shortlisted) (2023)
- 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
- SHIFT UP Corporation, a leading game development studio in Korea, in connection with its US$315 million global offering and listing on the Korea Exchange. J.P. Morgan, Korea Investment & Securities and NH Investment & Securities acted as the joint global coordinators and joint bookrunners.
- HD Hyundai Marine Solution Co., Ltd., a leading global vessel aftermarket solution provider, in connection with its US$545 million global offering and listing on the Korea Exchange. J.P. Morgan, UBS and KB Securities acted as the joint global coordinators and joint bookrunners.
- Korea Investment & Securities, Mirae Asset, Credit Suisse, NH Investment & Securities, KB Securities and UBS as underwriters in connection with US$317 million initial public offering and listing on the Korea Exchange of Doosan Robotics, a leading global collaborative robot manufacturer.
- 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 connection with 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
- Kakao Corp. in connection with its offering of US$212.2 million 2.625% convertible bonds.
- L&F in connection with its offering of US$500 million 2.50% convertible bonds.
- 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, Korea Ocean Business Corporation, Shinhan Bank*, Korea Railroad Corporation*, Korea Land & Housing Corporation*, Korea Gas Corporation* and Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power*.
- BNP Paribas, Citigroup, Crédit Agricole and J.P. Morgan in connection with the offering of US$500 million 5.750% senior unsecured notes by Hyundai Card.
- BofA Securities, Korea Development Bank and Standard Chartered Bank in connection with the offering of US$300 million 5.500% guaranteed senior unsecured green notes by Doosan Enerbility, guaranteed by The Korea Development Bank.
- Hanwha Energy USA Holdings Corporation, a comprehensive energy solutions provider in solar power projects in the U.S., in connection with 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, in connection with 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
- Hanwha Systems and Hanwha Ocean in connection with their US$100 million acquisition of Philly Shipyard, a leading U.S. shipbuilder with expertise in commercial and government-operated vessels (pending).
- 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. The parent public company resulting from the business combination was named “Captivision Inc.”, and Captivision’s ordinary shares and public warrants began trading on the Nasdaq Global Market under the ticker symbols “CAPT” and “CAPTW,” respectively.
- Hanwha Systems as shareholder in connection with the US$3.4 billion merger between UK-based low earth orbit satellite communications company OneWeb and France-based satellite operator Eutelsat to create a global multi-orbit satellite broadband operator.
- 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 and “M&A Deal of the Year (Over $1B)” in The M&A Advisor’s International M&A Awards 2023.
- 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 SHIFT UP Corporation on its IPO and Listing on the Korea Exchange - July 16th, 2024
- Paul Hastings Advises Hanwha in Acquisition of Philly Shipyard - June 24th, 2024
- Paul Hastings Advised HD Hyundai Marine Solution on its $545 Million IPO and Listing on the Korea Exchange - May 10th, 2024
- Paul Hastings Advised Kakao Corp. in its Issuance of Convertible Bonds - May 7th, 2024
- Paul Hastings Advised on Korea Ocean Business Corporation’s Issuance of $600 Million Dual-Tranche Notes - May 7th, 2024
- Paul Hastings Advised on Hana Bank’s Issuance of $600 Million Dual-Tranche Sustainability Notes - May 6th, 2024
- Paul Hastings Advised on Hyundai Card’s Issuance of $500 Million Notes - May 6th, 2024
- Paul Hastings Advised BNP Paribas, Citigroup, Mizuho, MUFG, and Société Générale on Hyundai Capital Services’ Global Bond Sale - February 9th, 2024
- Iksoo Kim Named “Commended External Counsel” South Korea at In-House Community’s Commended External Counsel of the Year Awards 2023 - December 26th, 2023
- Paul Hastings Again Top Ranked in Chambers Asia-Pacific 2024 - December 14th, 2023
- Paul Hastings Shortlisted for Four Awards at the Asian Legal Business Korea Law Awards 2023 - October 12th, 2023
- Paul Hastings Advised Underwriters on Doosan Robotics’ US$317 Million IPO and Listing on the Korea Exchange - October 6th, 2023
- Paul Hastings Advised Lead Managers in Doosan Enerbility’s US$300 Million Guaranteed Green Notes Offering - July 21st, 2023
- 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
Recognitions
- Paul Hastings Earns Top Rankings in Chambers Asia-Pacific 2025 - December 16th, 2024
- Iksoo Kim Named “Commended External Counsel” South Korea at In-House Community’s Commended External Counsel of the Year Awards 2023 - December 26th, 2023
- Paul Hastings Again Top Ranked in Chambers Asia-Pacific 2024 - December 14th, 2023
- 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