Smilegate Investment Forms Investment Partnership with KT&G

KT&G Dispatches Employees to First VC Site in Company History
Strengthening Cooperation Between Investors and Fund Managers

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwangho Lee] KT&G will dispatch its employees to the VC (venture capital) field for the first time since its founding.

Smilegate Investment announced on the 30th that it will sign a business partnership agreement with KT&G Growth Investment Office on September 1 to create a sustainable venture investment environment.

During the month of September, KT&G will assign Growth Investment Office employees to Smilegate Investment’s Investment Division 1, allowing them to participate in the entire investment process from deal sourcing, investment review committee, to drafting and payment of investment contracts. Smilegate Investment will also share insights with KT&G in post-management strategies such as investment asset evaluation, distressed asset management, and ESG risk. This training program is scheduled to be held three times by the end of this year. They also agreed to mutually cooperate in market-friendly fund management.

KT&G is expanding its venture investment and funding sectors, in addition to its existing health functional living and pharmaceutical bio businesses, as well as youth startup support. Since last year, it has been active as a member of the Korea Venture Capital Association, broadening its activities within the VC industry. Together with Smilegate Investment, KT&G plans not only to directly discover and invest in startups to secure new business opportunities but also to enhance understanding of the venture field to operate more market-friendly funding projects.

Kim Yuseok, Managing Director of Smilegate Investment, said, “The two companies have maintained a partnership with high mutual trust and understanding as limited partners (LP) and general partners (GP) for several years. Through this agreement, we will further enhance investors’ capabilities and social responsibility awareness, creating synergy in both companies’ businesses and setting an example of coexistence within the venture ecosystem.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.