SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won visiting SK Biopharmaceuticals Co. in Bundang, south of Seoul. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Aug. 22 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korean conglomerate SK Group is seeking to list its pharmaceutical unit on the country’s stock market by the end of this year, industry sources said Thursday.
SK Holdings Co., the conglomerate’s holding firm, held a board meeting last month to pass a plan for SK Biopharmaceuticals Co.’s initial public offering (IPO).
SK Holdings said a board vote is mandatory for the IPO of subsidiaries, in which the company holds stakes. SK Biopharmaceuticals is a wholly owned subsidiary of SK Holdings.
Following the board decision, SK Biopharmaceuticals is expected to soon apply to the stock exchange for preliminary approval of its listing.
Earlier in April, SK Biopharmaceuticals tapped NH Investment & Securities Co. as the lead manager for the envisioned IPO and Korea Investment & Securities Co., as the co-lead manager.
An SK Holdings official said the company plans to carry out the IPO at the most appropriate time in light of market conditions.
Analysts expect SK Biopharmaceuticals to be listed after late November, when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) decides whether to approve sales of its anti-epilepsy treatment in America.
The FDA is slated to announce its decision on SK Biopharmaceuticals’ application of approval for Cenobamate, which the company claims may be more effective and safer than existing drugs.
SK Biopharmaceuticals hopes to start selling the drug in the United States in the first half of 2020.
SK Biopharmaceuticals began sales of its sleep disorder treatment Solriamfetol in the U.S. market last month.
The corporate value of SK Biopharmaceuticals, which was founded in 2011, is estimated at 5 trillion won (US$4.15 billion).
(Yonhap)
