Samsung life-backed Hayfin opens Seoul office. Published: Oct. 1, 2026 - 15:26:00 Updated: Oct. 1, 2026 - 17:50:06 Im Eun-byel European asset manager targets Korean institutional capital, eyes more maritime investments Hayfin Capital Management opened a Seoul office on Thursday to deepen ties with Korean institutional investors and expand its investments in the country, particularly in maritime finance. The European alternative asset manager, which oversees 40 billion euros ($45 billion), has appointed Chris Choi, former head of private equity, Asia-Pacific at UBS Asset Management, to lead the office. It manages nearly 1 billion euros on behalf of Korean investors. "Hayfin has been investing on behalf of Korean investors for a number of years since 2016," Risa Lipsky, global co-head of client coverage at Hayfin, said at a press conference in Seoul. "We are excited to announce that we will be able to better serve everyone locally with the opening of a dedicated office." The firm sees an opportunity to attract Korean pension funds and insurers seeking to diversify portfolios heavily weighted toward US private credit. "For an institution that has already built meaningful US private credit exposure, as many Korean pension funds and insurers have, adding European exposure is a genuine diversification of underlying risk," said Carlos Pla, Hayfin's head of portfolio management. Choi described Korea as one of Asia's most developed institutional investment markets and said the local office would help Hayfin work more closely with investors. Korea is also an investment destination for the firm. Hayfin said it has invested more than $1 billion in Korean shipyards, with its activity in the country currently concentrated in maritime finance. "We have a unique network and are identifying investment opportunities, and we expect to play a larger role in the Korean market over time as we build more connections and deepen communication locally," Choi said. The Seoul opening follows a management buyout completed in February 2025. Samsung Life Insurance subsequently became a strategic minority shareholder in Hayfin, alongside Mubadala and AXA IM Prime. Asked about the impact of Samsung Life's investment, Lipsky said it was still early but that institutional investors were showing greater interest in Hayfin. "The tone, the willingness or wanting to meet and discuss Hayfin's platform has definitely picked up," she said. [email protected]

Hayfin named Private Credit Lender of the Year at ION Analytics Mergermarket Private Equity Awards 2026. Hayfin has been named Private Credit Lender of the Year at the ION Analytics Mergermarket European Private Equity Awards 2026*. The award reflects a year of significant progress across Hayfin's private credit platform. Over the past 12 months, the firm has deployed capital across attractive opportunities in the European market on behalf of a global investor base. It continued to target middle- and upper-middle-market transactions between €100 million and €400 million, while closing DLF V, one of Europe's largest private credit fundraises, with €15bn+. The recognition follows Hayfin's selection as European Large Cap Direct Lending Fund of the Year at the 2026 Debtwire Direct Lending Awards, highlighting the strength of its disciplined underwriting and its ability to execute complex transactions across markets. The annual Mergermarket Private Equity Awards, which have recognised excellence in British private equity for more than 20 years, this year expanded across Europe to celebrate the continent's leading investors, dealmakers and advisers for their performance, innovation and impact. "We are honoured to receive this recognition from ION Analytics, following our success at this year's Debtwire Direct Lending Awards. This win reflects the strength of our European private credit platform, as well as the performance and commitment of our team," said Marc Chowrimootoo, Portfolio Manager and Co-Head of Direct Lending in the Private Credit team at Hayfin. "As ever, we are grateful to our investors, partners and colleagues for their continued trust, support and partnership as the firm continues to grow." As of Q2 2026, Hayfin manages approximately €40 billion of assets and has invested more than €59 billion since inception. * There is no compensation provided in connection with this award. This award should not be viewed as representative of any client's experience and should not be taken as an indication of performance by Hayfin or any of its clients.

Liverpool-based medical technology firm Inovus Medical has secured £15m in funding to expand into the US and new international markets. The company, founded in 2012 by surgeon Dr Elliot Street and engineer Jordan Van Flute, develops training simulators for surgeons using advanced hydrogel materials and its TOTUM software platform. The funding round included approximately £7m from NPIF II – PXN Equity Finance, managed by PXN Ventures, with follow-on investment from Mercia and new backing from Texas-based Unorthodox Ventures. The Liverpool City Region Life Science Innovation Zone contributed nearly £1m. Inovus's technology is used across the NHS and has been deployed in nearly 300 US residency programmes. The company has partnered with the Royal College of Surgeons England and the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists to deliver standardised surgical training.