Woori Asset Management announced on the 3rd that it will manage a 137 billion won ($100 million) education infrastructure fund, marking its full-scale commitment to "productive finance" for future generations.
The asset manager will participate in a long-term education infrastructure project to transform aging schools into digital and eco-friendly "Green Smart Future Schools." The project will be executed through the Woori Productive Finance Education Infrastructure Private Special Asset Investment Trust No. 1, with Woori Asset Management overseeing overall fund operations. The committed amount is 137 billion won with a trust period of approximately 23 years.
The fund will focus investments on the Green Smart Future School Build-Transfer-Lease (BTL) project, which renovates outdated school facilities. Through this initiative, six schools—Donguro Elementary and Dosin Elementary in Seoul, Susung High School in Gyeonggi Province, and Yesan Elementary, Deoksan Elementary, and Godeok Middle School in South Chungcheong Province—will be transformed into future-oriented learning spaces centered on digital technology and environmental sustainability.
According to Woori Asset Management, the fund's key feature is its stable return structure that secures both public interest and profitability. The company plans to generate returns through loans to the BTL project implementation entity and distribute profits to fund investors. Woori Bank and Dongyang Life Insurance are participating as major investors, while Woori Investment & Securities handles fund distribution.
Investment recovery will be based on facility rental fees and management operating costs paid quarterly by the education offices serving as competent authorities. The fund has secured completion guarantees and capital supplementation structures during the construction and operation periods, with a return structure linked to government bond rates designed to enable stable long-term profit generation.
"This fund operation is meaningful in that it goes beyond simple investment to build core infrastructure enabling local communities and future generations to grow together," said Jeon Geun-soo, Head of Alternative Investment Division 3 at Woori Asset Management. "We will continue to expand ESG-based productive finance going forward."