Woojae Kim

Practice Areas

Woojae is an established and trusted advisor to Korean conglomerates on outbound M&A transactions in technology, manufacturing, energy, retail, and other key industries. He is an especially recognized leader for advising Korean companies on their investments and sales involving US public companies. He also advises international investment banks and private equity clients in major transactions involving Korea, including M&A, joint ventures, and securities matters.

Woojae is a tireless advocate for his clients. He brings personal care and attention to every matter and works to achieve efficient and practical outcomes for his clients.

Prior to joining O’Melveny, Woojae practiced as a partner at one of Korea’s largest domestic law firms and at the Seoul, Hong Kong and New York offices of major international firms. With such combined experience, he brings a truly Asia-regional and international perspective and approach to his work.

Work Highlights

𝐌𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬 & 𝐀𝐜𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬

Magna Powertrain Group in the establishment of LG Magna e-Powertrain, a joint venture with LG Electronics

CJ Logistics in its sale of CJ Rokin Logistics and Supply Chain

The management sellers in the sale of equity interests in Woowa Brothers to Delivery Hero

Praxis Capital Partners in its acquisition of new convertible preferred shares in JTBC Studios

HELLA Holding International in its sale of equity interests in Mando-Hella Electronics to Mando

Carlyle Growth Korea in its sale of equity interests in Yakjin Trading Corp.

SK Telecom/11st Street in a strategic alliance transaction between 11st Street and Amazon, including potential equity participation arrangements

HELLA Asia Pacific Holdings in its sale of equity interests in HSL Electronics to SL Corporation

Samsung Corning Advanced Glass (“SCG”) in its spin-off and sale of the ceramic target business division to Vital Materials

IMM Private Equity in its sale of Tailim Package, Tailim Paper and Tailim Packaging (2019)

Straumann in its acquisition of new equity interest in Warantec

First Reserve in its acquisition of Weir International and Flow Control business of the Weir Group PLC

CVC Capital Partners in its acquisition of WITH Innovation Corp.

Crescendo Equity Partners Limited in its acquisition of new equity interest in Qxpress Pte.

General Motors in its acquisition of further equity interest in GM Korea

Samsung Electronics in its acquisition of Dacor

Samsung Electronics in the sale of its fiber optics business to Corning

Hanwha Solar Holdings and Hanwha Q CELLS in the sale of Hanwha Q CELLS to Hanwha SolarOne

Samsung Display in the sale of equity interests in Samsung Corning Precision Materials to Corning and its preferred shares strategic investment in Corning

Samsung Electronics in its strategic minority investment in Sharp

Samsung Electronics in its acquisition of CSR Plc’s mobile connectivity and location technology

Samsung Electronics in the sale of its hard disk drive business to Seagate Technology

Korea East-West Power in its acquisition of Marubeni Sustainable Energy, Inc.

An Asian financial institution in its attempted bid for the Asian operations of Lehman Brothers

TPG Axon in its minority investment in a mining company in Asia

Citadel Equity Fund Ltd. in its investments in convertible bonds issued by four SEC reporting companies with operations in China

Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P. in its payment-in-kind note financing related to the acquisition of the Australian businesses of Cleanaway and Brambles Industrial Services from Brambles Industries

Lightyear Capital and Vestar Capital Partners, in a series of minority investments in reinsurance companies in newly established in Bermuda

𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐬

Goldman Sachs as the underwriter in the initial public offering of STX OSV on the Singapore stock exchange

Samsung Securities in the initial public offering of Dongkuk S&C, on the KRX KOSDAQ market

Merrill Lynch in a Rule 144A/Regulation S initial public offering of common shares by Samsung Card Co., Ltd.

Morgan Stanley in a Regulation S offering of US$550 million convertible bonds by LG.Philips LCD Co., Ltd.

Citibank, Credit Suisse, Goldman Sachs, Merrill Lynch, and The Korea Development Bank in a Rule 144A/Regulation S offering of US$500 million convertible bonds by Hynix Semiconductor Inc.

Languages Spoken

English, Korean

Education