Japan Regional Bank Stocks Drop After Zentoshin Bankruptcy Sparks Credit Risk Concerns 
Venezuela Earthquake Death Toll Climbs to 3,811 as Government Seeks Sanctions Relief 
Morgan Stanley Names Marks & Spencer Top European Retail Pick, Sees Strong Upside 
OpenAI GPT-5.6 Set for Wider Release After U.S. Commerce Approval, Report Says 
Samsung Chairman Lee Jae-yong Expected to Meet Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang on AI and Chip Partnership 
US Back-to-School Spending Seen Falling as Families Focus on Essentials 
Goldman AM Sees Strong Buyout Opportunities in Japan, South Korea and Australia 
European Regulators Clash With U.S. Treasury Over Private Credit Transparency 
Gold Prices Set for Weekly Loss as Iran Tensions and Fed Rate Outlook Weigh 
Chinese Chip Stocks Jump as Apple Reportedly Tests CXMT Memory Chips for China Devices 
Japan Producer Inflation Hits 7.1% in June, Fueling BOJ Rate Hike Expectations 
Kitron Q2 Revenue Beats Estimates as Defense Demand Lifts Growth 
Fed Chair Kevin Warsh Launches Task Forces to Overhaul U.S. Monetary Policy Framework 
Levi Strauss Raises 2026 Outlook After Q2 Earnings Beat, Shares Drop Despite Strong Results 
US Launches New Iran Strikes as Strait of Hormuz Conflict Escalates, Oil Prices Rise 
Netflix, Disney, YouTube Eye FIFA World Cup TV Rights in Multi-Billion Dollar Battle 
US Stock Futures Steady as Oil Prices Ease, Iran Talks Boost Market Sentiment 
A Twosome Place, a popular coffee chain in South Korea, is reportedly set to be acquired by The Carlyle Group, a Washington, D.C., headquartered private equity firm.
It was reported that the PEF company is planning to buy the no. 2 coffee chain brand in the country for about ₩800 billion or $669 million. The negotiation for the acquisition is said to be in the last stage and as per The Korea Times, the final agreement is already set to be signed soon.
Anchor Equity Partners, a Hong Kong-based private equity firm specializing in middle-market and consolidation investments in Asia, is the current owner of the A Twosome Place franchise and it is in ongoing talks with The Carlyle Group to finalize the deal. With the popularity of the brand and having a strong customer base, it was said that the company is expecting a 100% return of investment in just a few years.
In fact, A Twosome Place’s annual revenue has gone up to more than 10% year-on-year to ₩360 billion last year while its operating profit margin stood at 10%. One of the reasons for its growth is the company’s expansion of its delivery service amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Even with the crisis, the coffee house showed strong performance so it is really profitable.
The very first A Twosome Place was built in Sinchon in Seoul and it was opened in 2002. The coffee chain brand immediately grew until the business exceeded 1,400 branches and dozens are located overseas. It was CJ Foodville, a subsidiary of the CJ Group, that first launched this trendy coffee shop that also offers a range of baked goods.
This will be the first investment of The Carlyle Group in Korea in three years. It previously considered buying another Korean trending bakery brand, the Tous Les Jours, but the deal did not push through.
Meanwhile, it was in August when it was reported that A Twosome Place had been put up for sale. Pulse News reported that the Anchor Equity Partners has been approaching local and foreign companies for the acquisition investment and now, it is close to signing the deal with The Carlyle Group.
