[THE INVESTOR] Korea’s IMM Private Equity, the largest shareholder of local coffee franchise Hollys Food and Beverage, operator of the namesake specialty coffee chain, has decided to sell its entire controlling stake. According to industry sources on July 15, investors are showing keen interest in acquiring the popular coffee chain with more than 500 stores nationwide. Daesang Group, Carlyle Investment Management and several Chinese financial investors are cited as potential bidders. Hollys Coff

[THE INVESTOR] The changing structure of Chinese economy could cut South Korea’s exports by US$ 25 billion until 2020, the Bank of Korea said in a report on July 15. In the report, the central bank said that should China’s economy become more spending-centric, the rate at which South Korea’s exports to China increases will drop by 0.8 percentage point each year.The parameters in the scenario are the ratio between of China’s gross domestic product and consumer spending rises 5 percentage points b

[THE INVESTOR] Korean cosmetics company CLIO, which recently caught the attention of luxury goods giant LVMH, is gearing up for an initial public offering on Seoul’s secondary bourse KOSDAQ, according to industry sources on July 15. The sources additionally revealed that the cosmetics company is currently preparing to submit the required documents necessary for listing by end of July. NH Investment & Securities will partake in the process as underwriter. Actress Kong Hyo-jin in an advertisement

[THE INVESTOR] After its debut on the Tokyo Stock Exchange on July 15, LINE Corp.’s shares soared around 52 percent to 5,000 yen (US$47.40) from its offer price of 3,300 yen, as of 10:39 a.m. Trading of the company’s share in Tokyo was delayed early in the morning as buyers outnumbered sellers by about four to one. Line CFO Hwang In-joon (left), New York Stock Exchange President Tom Farley (second from left), Line Chief Global Officer Shin Jung-ho (third left), and Line chief strategy officer Ju