Hayfin, with KRW 62 trillion in assets, enters Korea with Samsung Life Insurance; hires former UBS Asset Management executive Chris Choi [fnMarketWatch]

[Financial News] Hayfin Capital Management, with approximately €40 billion in assets under management (AUM), or about KRW 62 trillion, is entering the Korean market. The firm appointed Chris Choi, former head of UBS Asset Management's Asia-Pacific private equity business, as its Korea representative and opened a Seoul office at Three IFC in Yeouido. It plans to expand its business base in the Asia-Pacific region and strengthen long-term cooperation with the Korean market.
On the first, Hayfin held a press briefing at the Conrad Hotel in Yeouido, Seoul, and announced these plans. The new office will solidify the firm's expanding base of Korean institutional investors through locally focused support and further strengthen its relationships with Korean institutional clients and partners. The Seoul office was opened after Hayfin completed a management buyout (MBO) in February 2025 and Samsung Life Insurance subsequently invested alongside Mubadala Investment Company and AXA IM Prime as strategic minority shareholders.
The opening of the Seoul office is part of Hayfin's strategic expansion across the Asia-Pacific region, underscoring the growing importance of Korea and the Asia-Pacific region within its global investor base. The office will be dedicated to client coverage and investor relations for Korean institutional investors, working closely with local institutional clients and partners to further strengthen existing relationships. Hayfin currently manages approximately €1 billion, or about KRW 1.5 trillion, from Korean institutions.
Hayfin is headquartered in London and operates local offices in 13 countries worldwide. It manages a range of strategies, including private debt, liquid credit, private equity (PE), and real assets, with private debt at the core. More than 95% of its total AUM is allocated to credit strategies. Samsung Life Insurance acquired a 3.96% stake in Hayfin last December.
Risa Lipsky, Hayfin's co-head of client coverage, said, "Samsung Life Insurance's participation as a strategic minority shareholder means that it trusts Hayfin's investment platform," adding, "Beyond a simple equity relationship, Samsung Life Insurance will directly support Hayfin's investment strategies."
Hayfin is focusing on investment opportunities such as providing financing solutions to Korean companies. Korea holds an important position in the global shipping and shipbuilding industries, making it a key market for Hayfin's maritime investment strategy.
Chris Choi said, "Korea has long occupied an important position in global capital markets and has a strong institutional investor base. By opening a Seoul office, we will be able to communicate more closely with clients and further strengthen the relationships we have built over the years. We look forward to developing our Korean business together, based on our firm commitment to strengthen our presence in Korea and a clear vision for future growth."
[email protected] Kang Gu-gwi Reporter