Asia Digest: Korea’s Kakao may sell 10% in mobility arm; OCP’s $200m financing for Oz SDA sector

South Korean internet giant Kakao has been reported to sell around 10% in its transportation division Kakao Mobility while OCP Asia Limited has announced a $200-million financing for Australia’s specialist disability accommodation (SDA) sector.

Korea’s Kakao may sell around 10% in mobility arm

South Korean internet giant Kakao has been reported to sell around 10% of its transportation division Kakao Mobility to private equity firm MBK Partners, per a report in The Korea Herald.

The deal has raised a dispute between the Kakao Corp management and its labor union, which has accused the management of giving up on its mobility business and questioned whether the sale would help the business grow, according to the portal.

Kakao Corp owns a 57.5% stake in Kakao Mobility while a consortium led by US private equity firm TPG holds 29% and the Carlyle Group 6.2%.

Kakao Mobility began as a spinoff subsidiary from Kakao Corp in 2017, and quickly turned into the country’s largest mobility platform service provider.

In December last year, Kakao Mobility raised 65 billion won ($55 million) from local retail major GS Retail by selling a 1.3% stake, local media reported.

Earlier, the firm secured an additional 140 billion won ($125.69 million) investment from a consortium led by TPG and Carlyle Group.

OCP Asia announces $200m financing for Australia’s SDA sector

OCP Asia Limited (OCP) has announced a $200-million financing for Australia’s specialist disability accommodation sector, focused on building high-quality housing for participants in the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) living in under-served regional centres.

OCP is providing funding for the acquisition and development of a portfolio of more than 40 sites in key regional and urban locations during a four-year investment phase through its partnership with specialist SDA accommodation provider NDISP and Social Impact Funds Management (SIFM), with an option to recapitalise the portfolio through SIFM’s SDA Real Estate Investment Trust, which is expected to list on the ASX in 2026.

OCP’s Dan Simmons said the initial focus for the portfolio was in Queensland, where two sites in the regional hubs of Townsville and Rockhampton had already been funded, with the portfolio set to expand progressively across other States and Territories.

SIFM CEO James Brooker said the SDA market is widely considered the largest social impact investment opportunity in Australia, requiring an estimated $5-12 billion investment. The Australian government has committed $700 million annually for payments to SDA property investors for the next 20 years.

OCP is an established investment manager, providing customised secured lending solutions for small and medium enterprises across the Asia-Pacific region. OCP manages approximately $4.4 billion of capital across five funds and has provided over $2 billion of funding to the Australian real estate market.

Go to Source