Prudential Financial Reports Higher Q4 Profit on Strong Underwriting and Investment Gains 
Global Markets Slide as AI, Crypto, and Precious Metals Face Heightened Volatility 
Toyota’s Surprise CEO Change Signals Strategic Shift Amid Global Auto Turmoil 
Trump Backs Nexstar–Tegna Merger Amid Shifting U.S. Media Landscape 
FDA Targets Hims & Hers Over $49 Weight-Loss Pill, Raising Legal and Safety Concerns 
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang Says AI Investment Boom Is Just Beginning as NVDA Shares Surge 
Dow Hits 50,000 as U.S. Stocks Stage Strong Rebound Amid AI Volatility 
Japan Economy Poised for Q4 2025 Growth as Investment and Consumption Hold Firm 
Washington Post Publisher Will Lewis Steps Down After Layoffs 
Thailand Inflation Remains Negative for 10th Straight Month in January 
SpaceX Pushes for Early Stock Index Inclusion Ahead of Potential Record-Breaking IPO 
Oil Prices Slide on US-Iran Talks, Dollar Strength and Profit-Taking Pressure 
Trump Signs Executive Order Threatening 25% Tariffs on Countries Trading With Iran 
SpaceX Prioritizes Moon Mission Before Mars as Starship Development Accelerates 
Gold Prices Slide Below $5,000 as Strong Dollar and Central Bank Outlook Weigh on Metals 
TSMC Eyes 3nm Chip Production in Japan with $17 Billion Kumamoto Investment 
A Twosome Place, a coffee house chain based in South Korea, has been purchased by Carlyle Asia Partners V, the buyout and strategic investment unit of The Carlyle Group. The deal involves 100% acquisition of Korea’s second-largest coffee company.
According to The Korea Herald, a deal has been reached after a series of negotiations between Carlyle and Anchor Equity Partners, a Hong Kong-based private equity fund company that owns A Twosome Place franchise. The agreement was already signed, but the exact amount of the deal was not disclosed.
Then again, sources in the investment banking circle estimated that Carlyle Asia Partners V may have purchased the coffee chain for a price between ₩700 billion and ₩ 800 billion, which is equivalent to around $592 million.
Initially, Anchor Equity Partners was planning for A Twosome Place to go public, but in May this year, the plans have changed. It was said that the reason for the shift was Carlyle and other international investment firms’ interest in buying the franchise.
“A Twosome Place has built a strong brand and positioning as a leader in South Korea’s premium café sector,” Carlyle’s managing director, John Kim, said in a press release. “We look forward to working with the CEO Young Sang Yi and his experienced management team to further build upon the strong franchise network and capture the significant white space in the Korean market.”
A Twosome Place’s chief also said that their company’s whole management team is excited to be teaming up with Carlylein bringing the brand to the next level of development in the business. CEO Young added, “There is significant opportunity for further growth in the Korean market, and we look forward to benefitting from Carlyle’s extensive global experience in the Consumer F&B space.”
Meanwhile, A Twosome Place was launched in 2002 by CJ Foodville, and the very first store was built in Sinchon in the western part of Seoul. It was marketed as a coffee shop that serves premium drinks and desserts.
The company grew, and today it has 1,400 store outlets in South Korea and overseas locations. The franchise was sold by the CJ Group to Anchor Equity Partners in April 2019 as part of the restructuring move.
