Jungsaemmool Beauty secures USD 36.6M investment from CLSA Capital Partners

SOUTH KOREA – Jungsaemmool Beauty, a leading South Korean cosmetics brand founded by renowned makeup artist Jungsaemmool, has secured a substantial investment of approximately 50 billion won (USD 36.6 million from Hong Kong-based private equity firm CLSA Capital Partners. 

This investment values the company at over 300 billion won (USD 220 million), reflecting strong confidence in Jungsaemmool Beauty’s market position and growth potential amid the global K-beauty boom.

The deal positions Jungsaemmool Beauty to accelerate its international expansion, particularly targeting the U.S. market, where it already operates over 1,300 stores across 200 countries. 

The company reported robust financial performance last year, with revenues of 110 billion won(USD 79.65 million) and an operating profit of 12.1 billion won(USD 8.76 million), alongside an estimated EBITDA of about 20 billion won. 

This amount underscores its solid profitability and operational strength in the competitive cosmetics sector.

CLSA Capital Partners, the private equity arm of the Chinese state-owned financial group CITIC, manages assets worth approximately USD 5 billion across the Asia-Pacific region. 

The investment in Jungsaemmool Beauty is part of a broader trend of overseas private equity firms aggressively pursuing Korean beauty brands to capitalize on the global surge in demand for K-beauty products. 

CLSA’s approach involves forming a project fund with Korean limited partners, signalling a strategic intent to deepen its footprint in the Korean investment market.

This infusion of capital is expected to empower Jungsaemmool Beauty to enhance its product offerings, scale its global operations, and strengthen its competitive edge as a pioneer in the transparent makeup trend that has become synonymous with Korean beauty. 

The partnership with CLSA also highlights growing Chinese interest in Korean cosmetics, supported by export data and market dynamics.

Recently, JUNGSAEMMOOL Beauty unveiled its first international flagship store in Singapore, marking a significant milestone for the iconic Korean makeup brand. 

Situated at 27 Scotts Road in a stunning colonial-style bungalow, the 4,972-square-foot space combines retail, salon, and academy services to offer a fully immersive K-beauty experience.

According to the brand, customers can explore the complete product line, enjoy personalized hair and makeup services on the second floor, and enrol in professional makeup courses.

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