D’Alba Global surges nearly 70% on Kospi debut

(KRX)

D’Alba Global Co., which owns South Korean beauty brand d’Alba, saw its shares soar nearly 70 percent on their first day of trading on the main Kospi market on Thursday.

The shares were trading at 112,400 won ($81.7) as of 11:14 a.m., up 69.53 percent from the initial public offering (IPO) price of 66,300 won. The stock opened 77.98 percent higher and continued its strong momentum.

The premium vegan skincare brand is best known for its facial mist, tone-up sunscreen, and double cream.

Strong investor interest drove the IPO price to the top of the 54,500 to 66,300 won range, following a bookbuilding session from April 28th to May 7th, 2025. The session drew a 1,140.88-to-1 competition rate. The public subscription on May 9th and 12th recorded a 1,112-to-1 rate, with deposits totaling 7.07 trillion won.

Meanwhile, shares of cryptocurrency-related companies gained broadly on the same day as bitcoin broke above the $ 110,000 mark for the first time.

Hanwha Investment & Securities Co.’s preferred shares rose 1.7 percent to 6,580 won as of 11:16 a.m., while its common shares climbed 2.69 percent to 4,195 won. The firm is viewed as a crypto stock due to its stake in Dunamu Inc., the operator of UPbit, Korea’s largest virtual asset exchange.

Other gainers include Danal Co. (up 4.74 percent) and Woori Technology Investment Co. (up 2.98 percent).

T Scientific Co., which holds a stake in Bithumb exchange operator Bithumb Co., also saw its shares increase 1.65 percent to 864 won. Analysts attributed the rally to improved investor sentiment following bitcoin’s new record high, its first in four months, with prices exceeding $110,000 on Coinbase.

In other market news, Samsung Biologics shares climbed on Thursday morning after announcing a spin-off, before edging down 0.09 percent as of 11:19 a.m.

The shares were up 8.18 percent at 1,190,000 won, with trading temporarily halted until 9:30 a.m. following the announcement. Samsung C&T Corp., the firm’s largest shareholder, also saw its share rise 0.43 percent to 139,600 won as of 11:19 a.m.

Samsung Biologics said it will spin off its biosimilar operations into a new company, Samsung Epis Holdings, while the existing entity will retain the CDMO business. The move aims to enhance business focus while boosting corporate and shareholder value as well, with the Korea Exchange confirming it received Samsung Biologics’ preliminary application for re-listing the new unit on the Kospi.

Founded in April 2011, the company was listed in November 2016 with Samsung C&T and two affiliates currently holding 74.34 percent of its common shares. The new entity will manage stakes in subsidiaries, including Samsung Bioepis, and pursue new investments.

D’Alba Global stock closed at 110,100 won, while Hanwha Investment & Securities’ preferred shares closed at 6,550 won and its common shares closed at 4,190 won. T Scientific shares closed at 864 won, Samsung Biologics shares closed at 1,080,800 won, and Samsung C&T Corp. shares rose 138,500 won.