Sang Hong

Sang Hong specialises in major infrastructure projects in Australia and Asia with extensive experience with Korean Federal and Regional governments and major corporations. Sang has worked in many jurisdictions advising major Korean and Australian conglomerates. In more recent years, Sang has guided IFM Investors’ and Plenary Funds Management’s entry into Korea and has significantly contributed to multiple successful fundraising campaigns.

Legal Experience

1996 – 2002: Clayton Utz and Minter Ellison law firms

2011 – 2017: Herbert Smith Freehills

2019 - 2020: Ashurst Lawyers

• Advising Samsung C & T, EPC contractor, in its dealings with all subcontractors for the Roy Hill iron ore project (EPC contract value US$5.9 Billion), including assisting Samsung C & T manage its rights arising from the collapse of Forge Group.

• Advising Samsung C & T in relation to the US$23 Billion merger with Cheil Industries (Australian related matters only) and how this impacted on existing contractual relationships and regulatory requirements.

• Advising Adani Mining in its dealings with Samsung C & T as a potential EPC contractor for the Carmichael Thermal Coal Project in Queensland (A$12 Billion).

• Advising Hastings Funds Management in its dealings with Korean counterparties (Incheon International Airport Authority, National Pension Service and Skylake Asset Management) for the Korean US$400 Million COPA Fund.

• Advising Daewoo Engineering and Construction (Korea) (US$300 million) in its dealing with the Genting Group of Malaysia with regard to a proposed development of a hotel, casino and shopping complex in Inchon, Korea. Main operator; Responsible for preparing information memorandum and joint venture agreement; Directly involved in negotiations.

• Advising Monsanto Group (USA) in its corporate restructure and scheme of arrangement in Australia. Led transaction.

• National Power (U.K.) (US$1.8 billion) in its proposed acquisition of Yallourn Energy, a State Government owned electricity power utility, which included documenting various complex finance agreements.

• Utilicorp (USA) (US$1.1 billion) in its successful bid for United Energy, a State Government owned electricity distribution enterprise.

Commercial and Finance Experience

2022 – present: CEO, ELP Corporation Co Ltd

2024 – present: Senior Advisor to Stafford Capital Partners

2016 – 2023: Senior Advisor to IFM Investors

2022 – 2024: Senior Advisor to Plenary Funds Management

• Senior advisor to IFM Investors on its market entry into Korea’s funds management business. Successfully raised over US$1.2 Billion from Hanwha Asset Management/Hyundai Investment led investors, Samsung Asset Management led investors, KDB KIAMCO led investors, Dongbu Asset Management.

• Initiated and developed IFM’s engagement strategy in Korea with both Government corporations, pension funds, mutual aids, cooperatives and insurance companies.

• Initiated and developed Plenary Funds Management’s entry into Korea and developed strategy to raise capital for its flagship Public Sustainable Infrastructure Fund and project acquisition funding.

• Development of a gold project in the northern regions of Peru as principal and successfully achieving production.

• Director of ELP Corporation Co. Limited, an Australian public unlisted company, involved in supplying electricity leakage prevention technology.

• Director of Dome Global Co Ltd, an Australian public unlisted company, involved in manufacturing and supplying emergency housing and other facilities.