Lee Yeon-woo is a financial journalist at The Korea Times. Her wide range of reporting includes policies, macroeconomics, stock market, companies and even crypto. She is passionate about connecting the dots in Korean finance and making it easier for foreign nationals to understand. Based on her previous experience as a national reporter, she also has a keen interest in social issues within the sector, including gender equality and ESG. Your tips and insights are always appreciated. You can send them to yanu@koreatimes.co.kr.
Energy infrastructure PE Prostar Capital opens Korean office
Prostar Capital's Head of Korea Daniel Han / Courtesy of Prostar Capital
By Lee Yeon-woo
Prostar Capital opened a Korean office and appointed Daniel Han to lead it, the energy infrastructure private equity announced Thursday. Korea becomes the firm's third global office, following locations in Sydney and Hong Kong.
Established in 2012 in the U.S., Prostar Capital specializes in energy infrastructure investments in the Asia-Pacific region. The firm, composed of experts with extensive experience in investment banking and private equity, focuses on mid-market investments — a segment with rich growth potential. By targeting the energy transition sector, the firm aims to accelerate carbon neutrality while meeting the growing global demand for energy.
Korea has been identified as one of Prostar Capital's key investment targets. The firm previously acquired Kyungnam Energy in 2017. By launching the Korean office and appointing Han, Prostar Capital aims to strengthen its base in the Korean market, and significantly expand its energy transition investments across the Asia-Pacific region.
Han is an investment finance expert with over a decade of experience in Asia's energy infrastructure sector. A graduate of Johns Hopkins University, he has successfully led numerous energy-related mergers and acquisitions (M&As) and exits. Before joining Prostar Capital, Han served as director of principal investments at Macquarie Capital and led the Korea division of the Green Investment Group, a green investment bank under Macquarie Group.
Dave Noakes, founder and senior managing director at Prostar Capital, expressed his excitement to welcome Han to the group. "With Han's extensive experience in M&A and project financing within Korea's energy transition infrastructure, we anticipate that he will play a significant role in expanding our presence in Korea and driving investments in clean energy solutions, aligned with the government's decarbonization policies."
Han also shared his aspirations. "With our local partners, we will actively seek investment opportunities in clean energy and hydrogen infrastructure to contribute to establishing Korea as a leader in energy transition," he said.