[IPO] 'Mini Teukgongdae' SAMG Enter "Leaping to Asia's Largest Comprehensive Kids Platform"

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Hyowon] SAMG Entertainment (CEO Kim Suhoon, hereinafter SAMG), a 3D-based kids family content entertainment company, held an initial public offering (IPO) press conference on the 15th at the Conrad Hotel in Yeouido, Seoul, revealing its vision and growth strategy for its kids intellectual property (IP)-based business.

At the press conference, Kim Suhoon, CEO of SAMG, stated, “SAMG has secured a global fandom by repeatedly proving the competitiveness of its intellectual property (IP) in the global content market. We have also internalized the capability to directly operate businesses in a wide range of fields including toys, fashion, games, education, and theme parks beyond IP-based animation. We have formed partnerships with major global entertainment companies and have been actively entering overseas content markets starting this year.”

SAMG, established in 2000, is a 3D-based digital content entertainment company that holds the largest experience in producing 3D animations domestically and possesses the largest scale of its own IP library. It gained global attention by co-producing the ‘Ladybug’ series, which was popular in Europe and Latin America, and has created high-quality content such as the ‘Mini Force’, ‘Catch! Teenieping’ series, and ‘Super Dino’ based on over 20 years of accumulated technology and systems. Last year, it introduced the K-POP concept digital idol ‘Lulupop’, continuously securing competitive IP.

Additionally, SAMG operates its own new media channels to secure overseas fandoms and build a foundation for local market entry. Currently, the total number of subscribers on its YouTube channel exceeds 40 million, and the total global new media views have reached 50 billion.

To strengthen business expertise and ensure stable market entry, SAMG has established cooperative relationships with leading global major entertainment companies including Sony Entertainment and DeA Planeta, Europe’s largest media group. Through these companies, SAMG has created a structure where its content and merchandise (MD) are launched simultaneously in local markets, and plans to officially launch in the global kids market through a ‘direct export’ method going forward.

Based on years of know-how in kids content IP business, SAMG maximizes the value of its IP by adopting a direct business model in various areas such as games, fashion, cosmetics, food and beverage (F&B), its own dedicated OTT platform, kids theme parks, and spatial businesses. To this end, it has formed partnerships with major companies such as LG Uplus and Samyang, minimizing potential risks during the process of promoting new businesses and expanding operations stably.

In the first half of 2022, sales increased by 150% compared to the same period last year, reaching 31.9 billion KRW, approaching last year’s total sales of 38.4 billion KRW. Operating profit in the first half of this year successfully turned positive, simultaneously proving the company’s growth potential, profitability, and market expansion possibilities.

CEO Kim Suhoon said, “With our entry into the KOSDAQ market as a turning point, we will accelerate our global content business and leap forward as the ‘largest comprehensive kids platform in Asia.’”

Meanwhile, the total number of shares offered by SAMG is 1.75 million. The desired offering price band is 21,600 to 26,700 KRW, and through this offering, approximately 37.8 billion to 46.7 billion KRW will be raised. Institutional investor demand forecasting will be conducted over two days on the 17th and 18th to finalize the offering price, followed by a general subscription on the 24th and 25th. The KOSDAQ listing date is December 6, and the lead underwriter is NH Investment & Securities.