Keystone Partners Challenges Venture Investment

Application for Venture Capital Company License
From Buyouts to Full-Scale Early-Stage Investment

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwangho Lee] Keystone Partners, a private equity fund (PEF) known for its investment in Yeokjeon Halmeoni Maekju, has begun preparing for venture investments. It is expected to secure a diverse portfolio through early-stage investments beyond management buyout acquisitions.

According to the investment banking (IB) industry on the 24th, Keystone Partners recently applied for a venture capital business license with the Ministry of SMEs and Startups. This is to complete registration as a venture investment company and expand into the venture capital (VC) investment sector.

Keystone Partners has acquired management rights of Yeokjeon Halmeoni Maekju, KAL Limousine, and the native online video service (OTT) Laftel. It has also adopted a growth capital strategy by investing minority stakes in companies with high growth potential. LS Materials, Barogo, and Aromatica are representative examples.

With this venture capital company registration, Keystone Partners plans to actively pursue early-stage investments. To this end, it has recruited CEO Joo Sung-min as the head of the venture business division. CEO Joo graduated from Seoul National University’s Business Administration Department and the University of Michigan’s Business School (MBA). He also has experience in the IB sector at Hana Financial Investment (now Hana Securities) and Hyundai Securities (now KB Securities).

Keystone Partners is a native PEF established in 2007. It was founded by CEO Yoo Hyun-gap, who built a track record in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) at Samil Accounting Corporation, Daol Investment (formerly KTB Network), and Choheung Bank.