Skip to content
  • KOSPI 2745.82 -9.29 -0.34%
  • KOSDAQ 910.05 -1.20 -0.13%
  • KOSPI200 373.22 -0.86 -0.23%
  • USD/KRW 1350 -1 -0.07%
  • JPY100/KRW 892.24 -0.48 -0.05%
  • EUR/KRW 1458.27 -4.53 -0.31%
  • CNH/KRW 185.94 -0.31 -0.17%
View Market Snapshot
Proxy adviser

Glass Lewis recommends LG Chem investors approve battery spin-off

By Oct 15, 2020 (Gmt+09:00)

2 Min read

Leading proxy adviser Glass Lewis has recommended that LG Chem Ltd. investors vote to approve the company’s plan to split off its battery business at a shareholder meeting set for Oct. 30.

According to securities industry officials on Oct. 15, the US proxy adviser said in a report to its clients that LG Chem’s planned spin-off of its battery unit is just a “technical” matter to be implemented as part of its internal business reorganization.

LG Chem’s shareholders won’t be affected by the move as the battery unit will be 100%-owned by the company even after the spin-off, it said.

Industry watchers say the recommendation by the US proxy adviser, which often exerts its clout over institutional investors in major corporate decisions, could work in favor of LG Chem at its shareholder meeting.

Researchers at LG Chem check the quality of electric vehicle batteries.
Researchers at LG Chem check the quality of electric vehicle batteries.

LG Chem, South Korea’s largest chemical and electric vehicle battery maker, angered its investors in mid-September when it announced plans to split off its lucrative battery business into a separate entity to carve out value as global EV demand increases rapidly.

The world’s leading EV battery business will be wholly owned by LG Chem and established on Dec. 1 after approval by its shareholders on Oct. 30

Shares of LG Chem have since fallen sharply on heavy selling by retail investors, who invested in the chemical maker for its battery business.

Analysts welcomed the company’s decision, saying the battery business will be more fairly valued by the market if listed separately, but the spin-off news rattled individual stockholders who fear their share value will weaken should the new company issue new shares in an IPO.

On Wednesday, LG Chem said it will offer a dividend of at least 10,000 won a share over the next three years in an effort to appease investors concerned about share value dilution.

The spin-off plan is widely expected to be approved at LG Chem’s shareholder meeting given that LG Corp., the group’s holding company, owns a 33.34% stake in LG Chem as its largest shareholder.

The market is closely watching any move by the National Pension Service, which is LG Chem’s second-largest shareholder with a 9.96% stake.

Write to Jae-Yeon Ko at yeon@hankyung.com
In-Soo Nam edited this article.
Comment 0
0/300