South Korea
Tencent invests $20m in Korea’s PATI Games
China’s Tencent Holdings has invested KRW20 billion ($20 million) in Korean mobile game developer PATI Games.
Korean LPs: A targeted market
From the National Pension Service downwards, Korean institutions are increasingly courted by international GPs on the fundraising trail. Building ties with these groups, formally or informally, can be difficult
Korea VC: Seoul-searching
The South Korean start-up community is flourishing as early-stage investors flock to the country in search of opportunities. What is driving this renewed interest and can it last?
Q&A: Morgan Stanley PE Asia's Michael Chung
Michael Chung, Seoul-based managing director with Morgan Stanley Private Equity Asia (MSPEA), discusses the intricacies of buying businesses from local conglomerates – and the prospects for exits via trade sales and IPOs.
Korean outbound M&A: Satisfied partners?
Korea’s National Pension Service wants private equity to help local corporates expand overseas. Three years after its inception, the Corporate Partnership Fund has yet to prove it is the answer
Stonebridge leads $3.5m round for Korean wearables maker
Stonebridge Capital has led a $3.5 million Series A round for Ybrain, a Korean start-up that makes wearables for Alzheimer's patients.
Softbank, Pantera lead $3m Series A for Korean bitcoin exchange
SoftBank Ventures Korea and Pantera Capital have led a $3 million Series A round of funding for Korean bitcoin exchange, wallet and merchant processor, Korbit.
L Capital Asia to invest in Korean talent manager
L Capital Asia, a private equity firm sponsored by French luxury goods conglomerate LVMH, will invest KRW61 billion ($60 million) in YG Entertainment, the Korean record label and talent manager responsible for acts including “Gangnam Style” rapper...
Samsung Electronics to acquire VC-backed SmartThings
Korean tech giant Samsung Electronics has agreed to buy US-based SmartThings, a VC-backed platform that connects everyday items to the internet.
MBK agrees $243m sale of Korea's Techpack Solutions
MBK Partners has agreed to sell bottle manufacturer Techpack Solutions to Dongwon Systems Corp, the industrial materials division of domestic conglomerate Dongwon Group, for KRW250 billion ($245 million).
CVC to sell Korea's WiniaMando to Hyundai Green Food
CVC Capital Partners has agreed to sell WiniaMando, a South Korean manufacturer of kimchi refrigerators, to Hyundai Green Food, a subsidiary of leading domestic retailer Hyundai Department Store. The deal is worth around KRW150 billion ($146 million).
Line backs Japan's Gumi, launches $100m developer fund
Messaging app start-up Line Corp. has agreed to acquire a less than 10% stake in Gumi, a VC-backed Japanese game developer. The exact size and value of the deal is still under negotiation.
South Korea's NPS commits $375m to Hamilton Lane co-invest fund
South Korea's National Pension Service (NPS) is committing KRW400 billion ($375 million) to Hamilton Lane's latest co-investment fund - Hamilton Lane Co-Investment Fund III.
South Korea mobile loyalty platform raises $3.9m
Daesung Private Equity and Bokwang Investments have invested $3.9 million in Spoqa, the South Korean start-up behind mobile loyalty platform Dodo Points.
Human Resources: Hiring for growth
When building the next Baidu or Facebook, finding the right team is as important as raising the next round of capital, if not more so. Early-stage investors can play an active role in the process.
CLSA wins Korea outbound mandate
Nexen Tire Corp. posted net sales of KRW1.73 trillion ($1.7 billion) in 2013 and is responsible for 20% of tire sales in South Korea, the fifth-largest market globally both for auto production and auto exports. The company has an established global presence...
CLSA, Korean corporate launch $295m global co-invest fund
CLSA Capital Partners (CLSACP) launched a KRW300 billion ($295 million) global co-investment fund in partnership with South Korean tire manufacturer Nexen. The primary LP is the National Pension Service of Korea (NPS).
Orix-led consortium to buy Hyundai logistics unit
A consortium led by Japanese financial group Orix Corp. has agreed to acquire a majority stake in South Korea's Hyundai Logisitics.
MSPEA rides out Volcker impact
For most Asia-focused GPs that were once captive units of investment banks, the shadow of their former parent has long since faded. Restrictions on financial institutions as LPs is a problem, but they are already accustomed to life without balance sheet...
Morgan Stanley PE Asia closes Fund IV at $1.7b
Morgan Stanley Private Equity Asia (MSPEA) has closed its fourth Asian fund at approximately $1.7 billion. The vehicle launched in mid-2012 with a target of $1.5 billion and reached a first close later that year of around $750 million.
Goldman Sachs leads $400m investment in Korean gas producer
A Goldman Sachs-led consortium has acquired a controlling stake in the industrial gas business of South Korean conglomerate Daesung Group for $400 million, including $200 million in convertible bonds.
Carlyle to acquire Japan's SBI Mortgage
The Carlyle Group has made a tender offer to acquire 100% of Japanese mortgage bank SBI Mortgage in deal valued at approximately JPY43.2 billion ($423 million).
Standard Chartered PE backs Korea's AJ Networks
Standard Chartered Private Equity (SCPE) has invested $60 million in AJ Networks, the largest shareholder in listed South Korean car rental business AJ Rent A Car.
MSPEA in $293m Korea construction materials carve-out
Morgan Stanley Private Equity Asia (MSPEA) has acquired a construction materials business from a subsidiary of South Korean conglomerate Hanwha Group in a deal worth KRW300 billion ($293.4 million), including debt.