이 기사는 2021년 04월 27일 08시02분 thebell에 표출된 기사입니다

Korea Development Bank (KDB) and Korea Growth Investment Corp (K-Growth), which recently finalized investment firms for a regular round of New Deal mandates, announced on Friday that it will award New Deal mandates worth around 283 billion won ($254 million) on a rolling basis.

The amount of New Deal mandates awarded on a rolling basis has been reduced by 460 billion won compared to that of the regular mandates, which was around 745 billion won in total.

KDB and K-Growth will include two new categories that focus on regional development and opportunities to new and young investment firms respectively. Each vehicle proposed by interested managers is required to invest 60% or more of its size in small and medium-sized enterprises in the New Deal sectors located in regional areas of the country.

For the category for new and young investment firms, applicants have to be firms that have less than five years of history, manage blind-pool funds worth less than 50 billion won and have never been awarded mandates by either KDB or K-Growth.

It is notable in the upcoming round of New Deal mandates that Industrial Bank of Korea (IBK) will participate as an anchor investor along with KDB and K-Growth.

“IBK is trying to be an anchor investor this year,” industry source said, adding, “Its participation in the round seems to reflect its stance.”

Applicants are allowed to offer funds in the New Deal sectors including DNA (digital, network, AI), green mobility, new deal services, green industry, SOC and smart logistics centers and smart industrial complexes.

Proposals are due on May 18, with final selections expected at the end of June. Selected managers have to form funds within six months of the final selections being announced.

KDB and K-Growth received proposals from 84 firms during the regular tender process, including private equity firms, venture capital firms and asset managers. Total 26 investment firms were selected amid intense competition. (Reporting by Byung-yoon Kim)