[2023 Capital Investment Awards] UCK Partners, Notable Investment Results in Medit and Osstem Implant

Private equity firm UCK Partners was honored with the 'Deal of the Year' award at the 2023 Asia Capital Investment Awards held on the 5th at Lotte Hotel in Sogong-dong, Seoul.

Despite challenging market conditions, UCK Partners recorded outstanding performance throughout 2023 in all stages including fundraising, investment, and exit.

Kim Soo-min, CEO of UCK Partners
[Photo by UCK Partners]

The first fund since the company name change, UCK Partners Blind Fund No. 3, exceeded its funding target by more than 30%, successfully raising over 1 trillion KRW. For the first time since its establishment, overseas institutional investors also participated as limited partners (LPs).

The sale of Medit was recognized as the largest 'big deal' in the domestic mergers and acquisitions (M&A) market this year. It was sold for 2.5 trillion KRW after three years of investment, achieving a 5.7 times return.

From deal sourcing to exit, this case was recorded as an example of achieving the largest scale in Asia and top-tier global investment returns based on UCK Partners' unique buyout capabilities.

As a sole deal sourcing case upheld by UCK Partners, they began building trust with the founders ahead of competitors and engaged in in-depth discussions starting 10 months before the official commencement of the sale process.

Based on the investment rationale and Value Creation Plan established from the deal sourcing stage, the company was grown into the global number one in the dental 3D scanner industry.

In the case of the Ostem Implant investment, it became the largest tender offer in Korea and a model case for voluntary delisting through this process.

Ostem Implant, established in 1997, was the first company in Korea to develop implants independently and held the number one global market share by sales volume in 2022.

Through the dental industry network built from the Medit investment, UCK Partners was introduced to the founder and held dozens of meetings over a year, considering not only the sale price but also the founder’s desire to restore honor and resolve personal debts, ultimately succeeding in deal sourcing.

The Ostem investment case was highly regarded across the industry as a model example of ESG investment, where private equity enhances corporate value through improvements in corporate governance.

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