이 기사는 2022년 03월 18일 08시14분 thebell에 표출된 기사입니다

Affirma Capital has invested in Beam Mobility, the Asia’s biggest electric scooter-sharing company, as it bets on the fast-growing micromobility market in the region.

The Singapore-headquartered private equity firm bought $75 million (approximately 90 billion won) in convertible bonds and preferred shares issued by the company, according to sources.

Half of the investment was financed from the firm’s fifth flagship fund, which closed with 543.4 billion won ($446.8 million) in capital commitments last year. The remaining amount was funded through a bridge loan.

To replace the bridge loan, Affirma Capital plans to market a 45 billion won fund dedicated to Beam Mobility.

Beam Mobility, founded in Singapore in July 2018, is the biggest micromobility service provider in Asia Pacific, with 1.6 million users and operations in South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and Thailand. The region’s micromobility market is expected to grow more than twofold each year by 2025.

Affirma Capital used its global network to complete the deal. The firm’s South Korea and Singapore teams worked together to perform due diligence of Beam Mobility’s units in South Korea, Australia and Malaysia. They also conducted due diligence on markets the company is planning to enter, such as Turkey, Japan and Taiwan.

With backing from Affirma Capital, Beam Mobility intends to expand its business into more than 10 other countries and diversify its service offerings in order to cement its leading status in Asia’s micromobililty market. (Reporting by Hyo-jung Lim)