Hamilton Lane invests in IMM infrastructure fund in secondary deal

This marks the Seoul-based alternative investment firm’s first secondary deal in Asia

(Courtesy of Getty Images) 
(Courtesy of Getty Images) 
Da Eun Choi 2
2025-05-20 18:56:36 ax@hankyung.com
Alternative investments

Global private market investor Hamilton Lane Inc. has acquired a stake in Seoul-based alternative investment firm IMM Investment’s infrastructure fund, marking IMM’s first-ever secondary transaction in Asia and signaling growing global interest in Korea-originated infrastructure assets.

The transaction, finalized on March 31, was a secondary limited partner (LP) deal in which Hamilton Lane purchased existing investor commitments in the IMM Infra 8th Private Equity Fund.

These types of deals allow new investors to enter mature funds by acquiring interests from earlier backers, providing liquidity to the sellers and continued upside for the buyers. 

Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

The IMM fund is classified as a core-plus and value-added infrastructure vehicle, with investments in energy transition, mobility, digital infrastructure and social assets across Korea.

The latest deal is expected to give the US-based investor exposure to Korea’s fast-growing infrastructure sectors, while supporting IMM’s efforts to broaden its international footprint.

“This transaction speaks to the institutional strength of our infrastructure platform and the increasing confidence global investors have in Korea as a long-term infrastructure market,” said Paek Jin-heum, chief executive officer of IMM Investment Singapore.

(Courtesy of IMM Investment)
(Courtesy of IMM Investment)

Hamilton Lane, which manages approximately $956 billion in assets under management and supervision as of December 2024, sees the infrastructure secondaries market as a growing opportunity.

“We believe there is a vast opportunity set in the infrastructure secondaries market,” said Brent Burnett, head of Infrastructure and Real Assets at Hamilton Lane. “Our investment in the IMM Infra 8th Private Equity Fund underscores our ongoing commitment to identifying unique opportunities in the infrastructure space.”

Through the deal, IMM will continue to manage the portfolio, leveraging its in-market expertise and value-creation strategy.

Hamilton Lane will contribute institutional due diligence, cross-border access and secondaries capabilities, aligning both firms around a shared long-term investment outlook.

The partnership is also expected to accelerate IMM’s transition from a Korea-focused firm to a broader regional platform.

The Korean investment firm set up its Singapore office in 2023 to serve as a hub for overseas fundraising and global partnerships.

Founded in 1999, IMM Investment currently manages more than $7.5 billion in assets across venture capital, growth equity and infrastructure, with offices in Seoul, Singapore, Tokyo and Hong Kong.

Write to Da Eun Choi at ax@hankyung.com

Sookyung Seo edited this article.
#secondary LP deal #fund stake investment #Hamilton Lane #IMM Investment #alternative investment #infrastructure investment fund #LPs #energy #mobility #digital infrastructure #IMM Investment Singapore #Korean investors

IMM PE exits Woori Financial with double-digit return

IMM PE exits Woori Financial with double-digit return

Woori Financial Group headquarters in Seoul IMM Private Equity has divested its remaining 1.38% stake in Woori Financial Group for 166.4 billion won ($115 million), exiting the South Korean financial holding company nine years after its investment.The Seoul-based private equity firm sold 10,261

IMM consortium picked as preferred bidder for Ecorbit

IMM consortium picked as preferred bidder for Ecorbit

A rendered image of Ecorbit's R&D center (Courtesy of Ecorbit) A consortium of IMM Private Equity and IMM Investment has moved a step closer to owning South Korea’s No. 1 landfill company Ecorbit Co. after offering 2.1 trillion won ($1.6 billion) for the firm.According to sources in t

Carlyle, Keppel, IMM stay in final race for Ecorbit

Carlyle, Keppel, IMM stay in final race for Ecorbit

Waste treatment center (Courtesy of Ecorbit) Carlyle Group, a union of Hong Kong-based Keppel Corp. and Gaw Capital Partners and a consortium of IMM Investment and IMM Private Equity are the three bidders remaining for South Korea’s largest landfill company Ecorbit Co., raising expectatio

IMM PE puts South Korea’s top travel agency Hanatour up for sale

IMM PE puts South Korea’s top travel agency Hanatour up for sale

Hanatour is Korea's top travel agency IMM Private Equity Inc., a Seoul-based private equity firm, is selling its controlling stake in Hanatour Service Inc., South Korea’s top travel agency, four years after its purchase.According to investment banking industry sources on Tuesday, IMM PE h

IMM invests $97 mn in Korean supplier of Boeing, Airbus

IMM invests $97 mn in Korean supplier of Boeing, Airbus

(Courtesy of Kencoa) IMM Investment Corp., a major South Korean private equity firm, invested $97 million in Kencoa Aerospace Corp., a local supplier of global industry leaders such as Boeing Co., Airbus SE, Lockheed Martin Corp. and Northrop Grumman Corp.Kencoa said on Friday it secured some 1

IMM among shortlisted bidders for special chemicals maker Songwon

IMM among shortlisted bidders for special chemicals maker Songwon

Competition to acquire Songwon Industrial Co., one of the world’s top specialty chemicals makers, is heating up as the South Korean company and Goldman Sachs, the lead manager for the sale, will launch bidding next week. Songwon is planning to sell a 35.7% stake owned by its founding fam
(* comment hide *}