FACTBOX-South Korea's 2007 insurance M&A deals

Dec 14 (Reuters) - South Korean insurance companies have become prime targets of foreign rivals and banks, lured by growth potential and easier regulations, but buyers should hold off on hopes for making quick profits from the acquisitions.

For story see [ID:nSEO270525]

Following is a list of 2007 M&A deals involving South Korean insurance companies.

* Dec. 11- A consortium including British insurer Aviva (AV.L) and Woori Financial Group (053000.KS), South Korea's No. 3 financial services firm, have signed a preliminary agreement to buy a controlling stake in unlisted LIG Life Insurance, Woori said.

* Dec. 10 - ERGO (ERGG.DE), a primary insurance unit of Germany's Munich Re (MUVGn.DE), has acquired a majority of online auto insurer Daum Direct for about $102 million in early this month to embark into the country. [ID:nSEO90074]

* Dec. 7 - A consortium led by South Korea's Lotte Hotel has signed an agreement to buy a majority of Daehan Fire & Marine Insurance (000400.KS), in a deal reportely worth about $400 million. [ID:nSEO80904]

* Nov. 16 - The private equity arm of Standard Chartered (STAN.L) (2888.HK) has bought a 5.3 percent stake in South Korea's Kyobo Life Insurance Co Ltd. [ID:nSEO188390]

* Nov. 12- HSBC Holdings (HSBA.L) (0005.HK) entered an agreement to buy a stake in the life insurance unit of South Korea's Hana Financial Group (086790.KS) for $58.4 million. [ID:nSEO98530]

* Sept 13 - U.S. private equity house Corsair Capital will buy a 5.28 percent stake in South Korea's No. 3 life insurer Kyobo Life for 200.3 billion won. [ID:nSEO363322]

* July 19 - ING Groep NV (ING.AS) (ING.N) is discussing a plan with Kookmin Bank 060000.KS to jointly inject 400 million euros in the Dutch insurer's South Korean unit, ING LIfe Insurance Korea Ltd. [ID:nSEO302483]

* March 15 - French insurer AXA (AXAF.PA) said it would buy a 75 percent stake in South Korean motor insurer Kyobo Auto, in a deal reportedly worth around $106 million. (Reporting by Kim Yeon-hee; Editing by Lincoln Feast)