South Korea
3Q analysis: Digital dreamers
Early- and growth-stage technology deals dominate the China investment charts; middle market fundraising enjoys a rebound; private equity investors turn to trade sales as the public markets flounder
Anchor Equity closes second Korea fund at $850m
Anchor Equity Partners has raised $850 million for its second South Korea-focused fund, less than two years after closing Fund I at $500 million.
H&Q Korea to take full ownership of JobKorea in $85m deal
H&Q Korea plans to acquire the 50.1% of JobKorea - the South Korean operation of Monster Worldwide - that it doesn't already own for approximately $85 million.
PE investors target Korean corporate carve-outs - AVCJ Forum
Private equity investors in South Korea continue to see signs of increased deal flow in the form of corporate carve-outs as domestic conglomerates rationalize their businesses.
MBK consortium to buy Tesco's Homeplus in $6.4b deal
A consortium led by MBK Partners has agreed to buy Homeplus – Tesco’s South Korea unit – at an enterprise valuation of GBP4.2 billion ($6.4 billion). Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) will contribute $534 million to the deal. Other co-investors...
Korea outbound fund supports $377m China logistics deal
STIC Investments and Korea’s National Pension Service (NPS) have agreed to support a KRW455 billion ($377 million) acquisition of a majority stake in China-based Rokin Logistics by CJ Korea Express Corp.
MBK named preferred bidder for Tesco's Korea business - report
A consortium led by MBK Partners is said to have been named the preferred bidder for Tesco’s South Korea-based Homeplus business in a deal that could be worth around $6 billion.
Korean start-ups: Pursuing critical mass
A handful of Korean start-ups have achieved valuations in excess of $1 billion as investors look to leverage a mobile-centric consumer base. But how many unicorns can this market accommodate?
Korea middle market: Behind the curtain
Korea’s middle market continues to blossom thanks to succession issues, restructuring and ambitions to expand overseas. But deals are struck in strict confidence – and GPs say that is how it should remain
Fundraising: Cracking the Korean LP
Korea’s LP community has been compared to an iceberg: the tip is very visible but getting to the lump of uncommitted capital that lurks beneath surface can be far more difficult. GPs on the fundraising trail must ask themselves whether it is worth the...
Korea buyouts: Who's selling?
Thanks to a steady stream of large cap deals, Korea accounts for a growing share of Asia buyout activity. But can this trend be sustained?
Korean conglomerates: Governance gridlock
The shareholder spat between Samsung and Elliott Management put Korea’s corporate governance shortfalls under the spotlight, but industry participants don’t expect to see the chaebol brought into line
Q&A: Formation 8's Brian Koo
As Formation 8 prepares to launch an Asia fund, Brian Koo, co-founder of the venture capital firm, explains why the strategy has evolved from rolling out US technologies in Asia to backing local start-ups
Vogo buys Korean lifestyle product maker Bodyfriend
Vogo Investment has acquired a controlling stake in Bodyfriend, South Korea's largest maker of massage chairs and other lifestyle products, in a management buyout.
CVC appoints Steve Lim as South Korea chairman
CVC Capital Partners has hired Steve Lim, former CEO and managing director of JP Morgan in South Korea, as its chairman in the country.
Korea launches another attempt to sell Woori Bank stake
The South Korean government is once again trying to sell its controlling stake in Woori Bank, this time dividing the asset into multiple tranches so that there is no one dominant shareholder.
KIC invests $100m in US pet supplies firm
South Korea's sovereign wealth fund KIC has invested $100 million in US-based pet supplies and services retail chain PetSmart as part of a takeover led by US private equity firm BC Partners.
Deal focus: VCs dine on Korea's MangoPlate
Nothing illustrates South Korea's obsession with food better than a new foodie craze called Mukbang.
Korea's KIC targets 50% alternatives allocation
Korea Investment Corporation (KIC), which is expected to surpass $100 billion in assets this year, wants to increase its allocation to alternative assets to 50% from the current level of 8%.
Korean restaurant site MangoPlate raises $6.1m
South Korean restaurant discovery platform MangoPlate has raised $6.1 million from a group of corporate VC backers including Qualcomm Ventures, SoftBank Ventures Korea, and Yahoo Japan's YJ Capital.
Korea e-commerce: Appetite for disruption
Capital is gravitating to the leaders in Korea’s e-commerce space as consumers swap shopping malls for mobile devices. Efficient logistics and effective payment systems sit at the top of the agenda
PE-invested LIG Nex1 applies to go public in Korea
LIG Nex1, a South Korean domestic aerospace and defense company that is 49%-owned by STIC Investments-led consortium, has filed for a domestic IPO.
Korean groups launch $180m North America infrastructure mandate
A group of Korean institutional investors led by a unit of KB Financial Group has awarded a North American infrastructure mandate worth $180 million to Fengate Capital Management.
SoftBank commits $1b to Korea e-commerce player Coupang
Japan’s SoftBank Corp. has added another Asian e-commerce brand to its portfolio with a $1 billion commitment to South Korea-based Coupang.