[THE INVESTOR] Homeplus, the nation’s No. 2 discount supermarket chain, said on July 14 that it has recently decided to sell five of its stores to Ryukyung PSG Asset Management through a sales-leaseback transaction.

The deal price is estimated at over 600 billion won (US$526 million). The company will acquire the stores and lease them back to Homeplus that is owned by MBK Partners, the nation’s largest equity fund. 


Homeplus said the new cash will be used for the company’s future growth. The deal is expected to be completed within the month.

Together with Ryukyung, Koramco Asset Management and Pebblestone Asset Management also participated in the final bidding.

By Lee Ji-yoon (jylee@heraldcorp.com)