Samsung BioLogics gears up for IPO

[THE INVESTOR] Samsung BioLogics is set to apply for a preliminary listing review on Aug. 11.

Samsung BioLogics, the world’s third largest biologics contract manufacturer by capacity, will be the first pharmaceutical firm to be listed on the benchmark KOPSI in 10 years.

With Lotte Hotel’s IPO plans having been called off due to the ongoing investigation, Samsung BioLogics will be the largest IPO this year. The industry estimates subscription of about 3 trillion won (US$2.69 billion), and industry watchers say that Samsung BioLogics’ market capitalization is likely to exceed 10 trillion won.

According to reports, the firm plans to use the capital raised through the IPO to raise its annual production capacity to 360,000 liters by 2018. Its current production capacity stands at 180,000 liters.

In addition to Samsung BioLogics, Doosan Bobcat and Netmarble Games are also preparing to go public on the main bourse.

Doosan Bobcat, which is expected to draw 1 trillion won, applied for listing review on July 4, and is likely to be listed in October.

Meanwhile, Netmarble Games is expected apply for review in September, and become a publicly traded company by February 2017 at the latest.

By Choi He-suk (cheesuk@heraldcorp.com)