EQT is acquiring a significant minority stake in Douzone Bizon, a South Korean provider of enterprise resource planning and business software solutions, with an investment of approximately $930 million (1.3 trillion won).
The deal will give EQT a 37.6% ownership in the company, based on shares outstanding (or 34.8% based on issued shares including treasury stock), according to a company release.
The transaction includes the full 23.2% stake held by Chairman Young-woo Kim and 14.4% held by affiliates of Shinhan Financial Group, positioning EQT as the largest external shareholder in Douzone Bizon.
Completion of the deal is subject to regulatory approvals, including merger clearance from the Korea Fair Trade Commission and licensing authorisation from the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Resources.
Founded in 1991, Douzone Bizon serves South Korea’s small-and medium-sized enterprises with a suite of cloud-based enterprise software tools. Its offerings extend beyond core ERP into tax, accounting, compliance, and communications, making it one of the country’s most entrenched digital infrastructure providers for the SME segment.
EQT said the investment reflects its commitment to bringing global expertise in digital transformation and enterprise solutions to the Korean market.
Known for its purpose-driven investment approach, EQT typically implements long-term management enhancement strategies, often over a five-year horizon. In line with this philosophy, the firm is expected to prioritise internal investment and operational strengthening in the early stages of ownership, rather than short-term profitability.
The deal will be executed through BPEA Private Equity Fund IX, which is expected to be 5-10% invested following this transaction, inclusive of closed and signed deals, announced public offers, and net of any expected syndication.
The Douzone Bizon acquisition marks one of the largest strategic minority investments in Korea’s software sector, joining a growing list of global private equity players targeting scaled businesses with embedded growth potential across the economy.
In October, EQT said fundraising for its ninth Asia fund was nearing a final close in early 2026, after having raised $12 billion as of October 16. The vehicle is expected to reach its hard cap of $14.5 billion.
