SK Corp. to Pay 7,000 KRW Dividend per Share... Continues to Strengthen Shareholder Returns

Largest Dividend Since the Launch of the Integrated Holding Company
Reflecting Dividend Resources from SK Biopharm IPO and Partial ESR Stake Sale Performance

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Yoon-joo] Investment specialist SK Inc. has enhanced shareholder value by paying dividends of 7,000 KRW per share, a 40% increase compared to the previous year (based on the 2020 fiscal year).

On the 9th, SK Inc. held a board meeting and decided to pay a year-end dividend of 6,000 KRW per share, following the interim dividend of 1,000 KRW per share paid in August last year. The total annual dividend of 7,000 KRW, combining the interim and year-end dividends, is the highest amount SK Inc. has paid since the integrated holding company was launched in 2015. The total dividend amount to be paid to shareholders also increased by approximately 102 billion KRW from the previous year, reaching about 370 billion KRW.

Since SK Inc. paid its first interim dividend of 1,000 KRW per share in 2018, it has continuously maintained interim dividends every year, steadily enhancing shareholder value. The total annual dividend amount has also increased by about 77% over four years, from approximately 209 billion KRW in 2016.

SK Inc. implements an active dividend policy that reflects investment gains as dividend resources to share with shareholders. Last year, SK Inc. expanded dividends by reflecting investment profits from major investments such as China Watson, the world's No. 1 copper foil manufacturer; Chindata Group, a global mega data center operator; and Roivant, a bio-pharmaceutical innovation company, as well as from the listing of SK Biopharm and partial sale of shares in the global logistics platform company ESR.

Along with dividend expansion, SK Inc. is focusing its capabilities on establishing and proving a growth foundation centered on its four core businesses (Green, Bio, Digital, Advanced Materials), actively fostering eco-friendly hydrogen business through investment in Plug Power, a leading U.S. hydrogen company, this year.

SK Inc. is also leading shareholder-friendly management by being the first large conglomerate holding company to hold dispersed general meetings of shareholders, implement electronic voting, and announce a corporate governance charter.

An SK Inc. official said, "Amid changes in the external business environment, SK Inc. is rapidly establishing a growth foundation centered on the four core businesses. In particular, through business model innovation focused on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) management and establishing a virtuous cycle of investment by realizing investment returns, we will pursue both company growth and shareholder value expansion."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.