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AXIS-Y has entered a new growth phase with a minority investment from MBK Partners, in a deal that values the Korean vegan skincare brand at approximately KRW 430 billion.
According to the company’s announcement, the agreement is not a founder exit or a transfer of management control. The founder will retain a 60% stake, remain the largest shareholder and continue to lead AXIS-Y’s management and strategic direction.
What the deal includes
Under the agreement, MBK Partners will acquire a 40% stake in Asia Master Trade Co., Ltd., the company behind AXIS-Y, for approximately KRW 172 billion. The release describes MBK Partners as a minority growth investor and says the brand will remain founder-led.
AXIS-Y said the transaction reflects external recognition of the business it has already built and provides a foundation for its next stage of development.
How AXIS-Y says it reached this point
The brand said it has followed a different path from trend-driven K-beauty companies. Since launching in 2019, AXIS-Y has built its identity around vegan and cruelty-free principles, a climate-inspired skincare approach and direct participation from its global community.
The company said it is present in approximately 100 countries, generates more than 90% of its revenue outside Korea and has sold more than 20 million units of its Dark Spot Correcting Glow Serum.
AXIS-Y also said it expanded internationally before gaining wider recognition in Korea. It entered Olive Young in 2025, approximately six years after launch, and later saw key products reach No. 1 in the retailer’s online rankings.
What comes next
The company outlined four focus areas for the next stage with MBK Partners: global expansion, category expansion, AI and data transformation, and global talent and organization.
In global expansion, AXIS-Y plans to increase online and offline distribution and strengthen brand investment in key international markets. In category expansion, it aims to move beyond skincare into haircare, beauty devices and other areas.
AXIS-Y also said it will expand its use of AI and data across consumer analysis, market forecasting, demand planning, product development and operational efficiency. On the organizational side, the company plans to attract global talent and build execution capabilities for its next stage.
Employee participation and brand direction
The brand said it has introduced an employee stock-option program for key talent and plans to expand participation as the organization grows. It said the program is intended to connect future value with the people contributing to the company’s creation.
In the company’s statement, the founder said the investment recognizes what the team and global community have already built and that AXIS-Y was not created around a single trend or market. The founder said the company will preserve its vegan beauty philosophy and consumer-centered identity while continuing to invest in products, brand, technology and people.
AXIS-Y said the partnership is meant to strengthen long-term global competitiveness, not replace the identity that created its current value. The brand framed the deal as a step toward broader markets, new categories, new technologies and more consumer experiences.
Brief context
AXIS-Y describes itself as a Korean 100% vegan skincare brand founded in 2019. The company says its concept, “Climate of You,” is based on the idea that skin needs vary depending on environment, lifestyle and individual needs.
Sources: PR Newswire APAC / PR Newswire release.
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