KOSDAQ-listed company SCL Science will incorporate its affiliate SCL Healthcare as a wholly owned subsidiary to strengthen growth potential.
On the 2nd, SCL Science announced that it will acquire specimen analysis specialist SCL Healthcare through a comprehensive stock swap and incorporate it as a subsidiary. The stock swap and acquisition are scheduled for March 31, and SCL Healthcare’s performance will be reflected in SCL Science’s consolidated results starting from the second quarter.
SCL Healthcare, established in 2010, is a total healthcare specialist company. Its main businesses include clinical trial central laboratory services for new drug development, precision medicine-related genetic analysis services, and direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic testing services.
In particular, SCL Healthcare’s C-LAB is the first central laboratory established in Korea, equipped with internationally standardized facilities for clinical trial specimen analysis. To date, it has experience with over 700 new drug approval clinical trial projects, various specimen analyses, and biomarker validation. Additionally, the genetic analysis service sector has raised expectations by receiving official certification as a DTC genetic testing institution in 2024.
SCL Healthcare’s business areas represent high-growth markets. According to the ISR (Industry Standard Research) report released in 2023, the clinical trial contract research organization (CRO) market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 5.9% from 2022 to 2027. Furthermore, market research firm Global Information projects that the DTC genetic testing market size will grow from approximately $1.4 billion in 2021 at an annual rate of 16%, reaching $3.32 billion by 2028.
A company official stated, “Baek Se-yeon, CEO of SCL Science, is overseeing the business of SCL Healthcare,” adding, “The acquisition of the high-growth SCL Healthcare is expected to create synergies between the two companies, including in KAIST’s translational medicine research field.”
He continued, “From the second quarter of 2025, the performance will be consolidated as a subsidiary, which will have a positive impact on corporate value.” SCL Healthcare recorded KRW 14.6 billion in sales and KRW 700 million in operating profit in 2023.
Meanwhile, SCL Science also disclosed the issuance of convertible bonds worth KRW 14 billion. The secured funds will be used to strengthen competitiveness by investing in new digital medical businesses such as imaging consignment and OneCare acquired at the end of last year, expanding bio-logistics and upgrading IT systems, and expanding CRO-related businesses, in addition to the existing hemostatic agent business.
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