Bain Capital, a major US private equity firm, has agreed to acquire Taiwan-founded Gong cha. The transaction value has not been disclosed but has been reported to exceed ¥100 billion, and the deal is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2026.
Bain Capital, a major US private equity firm, announced that it has agreed to acquire Gong cha, the Taiwan-founded tea drink chain, from existing shareholders including US-based TA Associates. The transaction value has not been disclosed but is believed to exceed ¥100 billion. The deal is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2026, and Bain plans to accelerate Gong cha's global expansion, driven by growth in Asian markets including Japan and South Korea.
Following the acquisition, Bain said it intends to pursue growth by leveraging Gong cha's strong brand recognition and customer base in Japan and South Korea, while also accelerating its expansion in the United States. Founded in Taiwan, Gong cha now operates more than 2,200 stores in approximately 30 countries and regions worldwide. It entered Japan in 2015 and currently operates 220 stores there. The company is expected to strengthen its global operations, including in the Japanese market.
Gong cha aims to expand its store network, primarily in Japan, to 400 domestic stores and 60 million annual customer visits by 2028. The operator of Gong cha Japan has set out this expansion plan, and Bain is expected to support the growth strategy.