Bong Sang Cho

Practice Areas

Mr. Bong-Sang Cho is a senior foreign attorney at Shin & Kim. He has extensive experience advising on general banking, ECA-backed finance, acquisition finance, project finance and aircraft finance transactions. He started his career with Clifford Chance in London and has subsequently worked in Singapore and Seoul. He has mainly worked on financing transactions in South-East Asian jurisdictions and Korea but also has notable experience advising on transactions in Europe, Latin-America and Africa. Bong has also spent significant time in-house as a secondee lawyer at the Export-Import Bank of Korea and SK hynix. Bong currently focuses on investment/development of renewable power projects in Korea and acquisition financings for both inbound and outbound M&As.

Career

Senior Foreign Attorney, Shin & Kim; Kim & Chang (2021-2023); Clifford Chance, Seoul (2015-2021); Milbank LLP, Seoul (2015); Clifford Chance, Seoul (2012-2014); Lee & Ko (2010-2012); Clifford Chance, London, Singapore (2003-2010).

Professional Memberships

England & Wales (Solicitor), Foreign Legal Consultant (England & Wales) in Korea

Publications

Chambers Global Practice Guides - Project Finance: South Korea (Co-authored, Chambers and Partners, 2021-2022)

Work Highlights

Represented SK hynix Inc. on its US$1bn Korea Trade Insurance Corporation (Ksure) covered term loan for the acquisition of certain semiconductor manufacturing equipment; Represented Centroid Investment Partners on the KRW acquisition financing for the acquisition of TaylorMade Golf; Represented KEXIM and Ksure in relation to the RV555 motorway PPP project in Norway (European PPP Deal of the Year (PFI Award 2022)); Represented KEXIM on the US$401 million refinancing of the 433MW Norte II gas-fired plant developed by KEPCO, Samsung and Techint via KEXIM guaranteed private placement notes under the 4(a)(2) rule (Latin American Power Deal of the Year (IJGlobal Awards 2019)); Represented the senior lenders (including KEXIM, Ksure, EKF, ICIEC, Islamic financiers, international banks, Turkish banks) on the EUR2.3bn financing for Canakkale Bridge and Motorway PPP in Turkey (Turkish Deal of the Year (PFI Award 2019)); Represented a consortium consisting of Star Energy, AC Energy and EGCO in respect of their financing for the acquisition of Chevron's geothermal assets in Indonesia (Asia Pacific Renewables Deal of the Year (PFI Awards 2017));Represented KEXIM and Ksure in relation to the development and financing of the 1200MW coal-fired Nam Dinh 1 IPP in Vietnam, sponsored by ACWA Power and Taekwang Power Holdings Ltd.; Represented JBIC and KEXIM, in relation to the development and financing of the 1200MW coal-fired Nghi Son 2 IPP in Vietnam, sponsored by Marubeni Corporation and KEPCO; Represented ED&F Man in relation to its $1.5bn debt restructuring (scheme of arrangement) in 2020.Represented International Finance Corporation in relation to its A/B Loans to PT Indonesia Infrastructure Finance; Represented the lenders (including KEXIM and with covers from KEXIM, SACE and EGAP) on the financing to PLN for the 501MW Grati Combined Cycle Power Plant (Peaker) Extension Project in Indonesia; Represented the lenders (with covers from SACE and CESCE) on the financing to PLN for the Sumbagut-2 Peaker Power Plant; Represented the lenders (with cover from SERV) on the financing to PLN for Tambak Lorok Combined Cycle Power Plant Block 3; Represented Korean Air Lines in respect of an EXIM guaranteed financing for a Boeing 777-F; Represented Korean Air Lines in respect of an EXIM guaranteed financing for a Boeing 787-8F; Represented Asiana Airlines in respect of a COFACE covered financing for an Airbus A380; Represented Asiana Airlines in respect of the financing (lenders including the Korea Development Bank (“KDB”)) for an Airbus A380; Represented the Carlyle Group in respect of an acquisition facility arranged for the purposes of acquiring ADT Caps Co., Ltd.; Represented the lenders including ANZ and EKF on the 150MW Burgos Wind Farm Project in the Philippines (Asia Pacific Renewables Deal of the Year (PFI Awards 2014), Best ECA backed Green Deal (Trade and Export Finance 2014), Best Deal of 2014 (Global Trade Review)); Represented the lenders including KEXIM, Ksure and SACE in relation to the project financing of the Sohar Refinery Improvement Project in Oman; Represented KDB and other leading Korean banks in respect of refinancing Doosan Infracore's acquisition credit facility following Doosan Infracore's acquisition of Bobcat; Represented KDB and other leading Korean banks in respect of an acquisition credit facility for Fila Korea Ltd. arranged for the purposes of Fila's acquisition of Acushnet; Represented KDB and other leading Korean banks in respect of refinancing Oriental Brewery Co., Ltd's acquisition credit facilities following KKR's acquisition of Oriental Brewery Co., Ltd;

Education