이 기사는 2020년 05월 20일 08:00 thebell 에 표출된 기사입니다.

SKS Private Equity (SKS PE), which is sitting on one trillion won ($816 million) of dry powder in funds, is expected to actively carry out investment activities following its separation from SK Securities last year.

SKS PE is currently raising funds for its fund dedicated to invest in the materials, parts and equipment sectors in the country, with a target fundraising goal of 200 billion won, following its closing of a fund dedicated to support innovative companies in the growth and later stage at approximately 240 billion won at the beginning of this year, according to sources familiar with the situation on Monday.

A consortium of SKS PE and Daishin Private Equity was selected as an external manager by Korea Development Bank (KDB) and Korea Growth Investment Corporation (K-Growth), the state fund of funds, last year for the fund which aims to support innovative companies in the growth and later stage and closed the fund at around 240 billion won this year, far exceeding its minimum fund size of 170 billion won.

For the fund that invests in businesses in the material, parts and equipment sectors, the PE firm has reportedly secured more than half the target fundraising amount by obtaining letters of commitment. At the end of February, a consortium of SKS PE and Korea Investment Private Equity (KI PE) was picked as an external manager of the fund by KDB and K-Growth and secured 60 billion won. The Pension Foundation of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Korea later promised to commit 10 billion won to the fund.

SKS PE is managing a one trillion won corporate partnership fund (Copa fund), which was jointly created by the National Pension Service (NPS) and SK Group at the end of 2019. As a general partner of the NPS, SKS PE is actively sourcing new deals together with SK Group, seeking companies and assets with high growth potential in Southeast Asia. The fund completed its first investment in Vietnam’s Vin group last year and is seeking new investment opportunities.

SKS PE is sitting on one trillion won of dry powder, including its 200 billion won Daishin SKS Secondary PEF and 42 billion won social impact start-up fund backed by KDB and SK Group.

With its ample amount of dry powder, the PE firm is expected to actively invest in and acquire domestic companies using its blind-pool funds except for the Copa fund. The fundraising process for the fund for businesses in the material, parts and equipment sectors is going smoothly. The fund has to be formed by July.

SKS PE has recently created its alternative investment division to invest in domestic and overseas real estate, energy and infrastructure. With the latest restructuring, SKS PE now has three divisions – strategic investment division, PE investment division and alternative investment division.

(By reporter Kim Hye-ran)