Celimax Raises ₩120B Pre-IPO: What It Means for Buyers

The company behind Celimax (앱솔브랩), one of Korea's fastest-growing skincare brands, has reportedly raised ₩120 billion in a pre-IPO equity investment at a valuation of about ₩450 billion. The deal, reported by Capital Market News (자본시장뉴스) on October 1, 2026, is a strong signal about where K-beauty money is flowing, and it matters to anyone who buys Celimax wholesale.

What happened

• ₩120 billion raised before listing. Financial investors including Pine Tree Asset Management and Must Ventures took part, and the fundraising reportedly closed quickly.
• ₩450 billion valuation. The deal values Celimax's parent at about ₩450 billion.
• A share purchase, not new shares. According to the report, the investors bought existing shares rather than newly issued ones, so most of the money goes to selling shareholders rather than into the company.

The numbers behind the valuation

Reported results for last year were revenue of ₩174.2 billion and operating profit of ₩44.3 billion, which is 3.8 times and 8.7 times the year before, with an operating margin of 25.4%. On those results the valuation equals about 15 times earnings, and about 9.6 times on this year's expected earnings, which the report describes as a price that is not a burden given how fast profit is growing.

Why investors like Celimax

The report points to growth outside Korea and a balanced product lineup:

• Overseas sales are rising. Revenue in Russia and the CIS region reached ₩64.9 billion and grew further this year. In the US, Celimax is stocked in about 1,400 Ulta Beauty stores, moving from online into offline retail.
• No single hit product. Five core product lines contribute sales fairly evenly, and some products have a repurchase rate above 40%.
• "K-Beauty 2.0." Investors use this phrase for brands that grow across product lines and regions at once, instead of relying on one viral product.

The deal terms worth knowing

The structure is unusual. After buying common shares, part of the financial investors' stake was reportedly converted into redeemable convertible preferred shares. If the IPO is delayed, investors can ask for redemption of 50% after three years and the full amount after four years, and the interest rate rises to 8% a year if the listing is cancelled altogether. The founder sold part of their stake and now holds a share in the 20% range, while CEO Kim Min-seok, who kept his shares, became the largest shareholder. The report's analysis reads these terms as putting an IPO on a schedule rather than leaving it optional. As of this writing no listing date has been announced.

What it means for K-beauty wholesale buyers

• Demand for genuine stock stays strong. A brand growing in US retail and abroad sends shoppers searching for it online, which helps resellers who carry authentic product.
• Stock across the range, not one SKU. Celimax sells across several lines. Our catalog lists products from its Ji Woo Gae, The Vita-A, Dual Barrier and PoreDark ranges, for example the Ji Woo Gae Cica BHA Blemish Toner Pad.
• Check current terms before you order. Supply rates and minimum order quantities can change as a brand grows. We do not know how this funding will affect wholesale terms, so confirm the current MOQ and price before planning a large order. Our Celimax wholesale guide for resellers explains what to stock first, and our guide to supply rate and MOQ explains how Korean wholesale pricing works.

Buy Celimax wholesale from Korea

Korean Goods Wholesale supplies K-beauty directly from Korea to overseas buyers. Browse the wholesale catalog or Ready Stock for products that ship now, and apply for a wholesale account to see prices and order.

FAQ

How much did Celimax raise? Celimax's parent company reportedly raised ₩120 billion in a pre-IPO equity investment, at a valuation of about ₩450 billion.

Is Celimax going public? The deal is described as a pre-IPO round and its terms are built around a future listing, but no listing date has been announced.

Where can I buy Celimax wholesale? Approved buyers can order Celimax products wholesale from Korea through Korean Goods Wholesale.

Source

Figures and deal terms are based on a report published on October 1, 2026 by Capital Market News (자본시장뉴스), citing investment-banking industry sources. All figures are as reported and may change. This article is general industry information, not investment advice.