Non-Bank Financial Companies

“I’ve worked closely with them on several matters and found them to be consistently reliable and professional. Very helpful and patient when dealing with difficult clients and issues. Always a pleasure to work with them.”

- The Legal 500 Asia Pacific

Overview

BKL has expert knowledge of the legal framework governing the financial services industry in Korea and advises a broad spectrum of financial institutions on optimal solutions for all types of transactional and regulatory matters. We have broad experience in advising credit card businesses, installment finance businesses, savings banks and consumer lending businesses, and our extensive experience covers all legal issues ancillary to their business operations such as labor, tax, criminal and fair trade.

BKL’s Finance Group is able to bring to bear comprehensive resources and manpower to draw on the experience in multiple disciplines across BKL as necessary and provide one-stop coverage of all legal issues related to non-bank financial institutions. For example, our attorneys work closely with firm specialists with experience from local regulators such as the Financial Services Commission, the Financial Supervisory Service, the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the Korea Exchange and identify and resolve regulatory concerns.

We have a long history of providing advice on financial regulation in Korea through which we have accumulated in-depth knowledge and market know-how in relation to the entire spectrum of non-bank financial services. This allows us to provide legal advice customized for every legal issue and offer practical support and guidance to help non-bank financial institutions meet their internal reporting requirements.

Our Finance Group has been highly commended by global legal publications such as Chambers and IFLR, and our work has won numerous awards from major publications such as Asian Legal Business, the American Lawyer and Asian-mena Counsel.

Key Services

Structuring of credit transactions and deal documentation
Advise on structuring of new transactions
Draft and negotiate deal documentation
Advise on government approval and reporting requirements (such as foreign exchange reports)
Establishment of non-bank financial institutions and M&A
Advise on the establishment of financial services companies such as credit finance businesses specializing in loan services and trust businesses, and on mergers and acquisitions of financial institutions
Advise on, and process applications for, regulatory approvals, permits and reports, including those related to limitation on share ownership, merger and acquisitions and business transfers
Conduct due diligence and advise on implications in areas related to non-bank financial institutions such as fair trade and tax
Audits and investigations by supervisory authorities
Provide guidance on preparations
Advise on defense strategies
Litigation and dispute resolution
Represent financial institutions in litigation, mediation and arbitration proceedings resulting from regulatory audits and investigations or in relation to product and service offerings or mergers and acquisitions

Representative Cases

Advised on the financing of JKL Partners’ acquisition of Lotte Insurance
Advised on regulatory approvals for inclusion of Asia Trust as a subsidiary of Shinhan Financial Group, a financial holding company
Advised a savings bank on its responses to regulatory sanctions and criminal proceedings for violations of the Financial Investment Services and Capital Market Act
Structuring of credit transactions and deal x-documentation
Advised on the financing of Macquarie Korea Opportunities Management’s acquisition of shares in LG CNS
Advised on the financing of SKC’s acquisition of KCF Technologies
Advised on the financing of JKL Partners’ acquisition of Lotte Insurance
Advised on DS Hannam’s financing of the NineOne Hannam luxury residential complex development project in Seoul
Advised on Shinhan REITs Management’s financing of the Pangyo Alphadom City 6-4 mixed use development project
Advised on Korea Southern Power’s financing of and investment into the Yeongnam LNG combined cycle power plant
Advised specialized credit finance companies such as KDB Capital and Moorim Capital on loans to domestic and foreign companies
Establishment of non-bank financial institutions and M&A
Advised on regulatory approvals for inclusion of Asia Trust as a subsidiary of Shinhan Financial Group, a financial holding company
Advised on regulatory approvals for LF in connection with change to major shareholder of KORAMCO REITs & Trusts
Advised on regulatory approvals for the stock acquisition of Hyundai Savings Bank by Eugene Group
Audits and investigations by supervisory authorities
Advised a savings bank on its responses to regulatory sanctions and criminal proceedings for violations of the Financial Investment Services and Capital Market Act
Advised an ATM installation and maintenance service provider on its responses to the Financial Supervisory Service’s sanctions in relation to the leakage of personal credit information from the hacking of an ATM
Litigation and dispute resolution
Represented a savings bank in a dispute related to single-party loan limits
Represented a savings bank in a lawsuit related to its subordinated bonds
Represented the Financial Services Commission or financial institutions in cases involving designation of insolvent financial institutions and cancellations of capital increase orders