Korea Investment and Securities

South Korean conglomerate Lotte has kicked off bookbuilding for a real estate investment trust IPO, marking the first float attempt in the country since Homeplus Stores pulled its billion-dollar Reit listing earlier this year.

South Korean conglomerate Lotte has filed documents for the IPO of a real estate investment trust (REIT), looking to raise up to W430bn ($353m).

The Korea Exchange has temporarily banned NH Investment & Securities (NHIS) and Korea Investment & Securities (KIS) from sponsoring growth-track IPOs in the country until November 2020, according to multiple sources close to the situation.

Kakao Games, the gaming arm of South Korean internet conglomerate Kakao Corp, has pushed back its IPO until 2019 following a change in its priorities.

Kakao Games, the gaming arm of South Korean internet giant Kakao Corp, has set the initial terms for an IPO as it waits for the green light to go public.

South Korea’s SK Lubricants has withdrawn its up to W1.6tr ($1.5bn) IPO after failing to get the desired valuation, according to a filing with the country’s financial regulator on Friday.

SK Lubricants has begun gauging investor appetite for its W1.6tr ($1.5bn) IPO in South Korea through a syndicate of seven banks.

SK Innovation will sell a quarter of its stake in SK Lubricants through a W1.2tr ($1.2bn) IPO in South Korea next month.

SK Lubricants has submitted its initial application for a potential W2tr ($1.9bn) IPO in South Korea, according to a regulatory filing.

Kyochon F&B, operator of South Korean fried chicken franchise Kyochon Chicken, is considering a domestic IPO, according to sources familiar with the matter.

Pharmaceutical firm TissueGene has raised W202.5bn ($178.9m) after pricing its IPO on South Korea’s second board at the top of guidance, according to a banker close to the deal.

US-based TissueGene has announced an indicative range for its Kosdaq listing of W202.5bn ($179.1m), with bookbuilding expected to start next month.