56 Listed Companies' M&A in First Half of This Year Up 21.7% YoY... Stock Purchase Claim Amount 11.9 Billion Won

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Seon-ae] Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) were active in the first half of this year.

According to the Korea Securities Depository on the 22nd, a total of 56 listed companies completed or are in the process of M&A in the first half of the year, an increase of 21.7% compared to the same period last year (46 companies). However, this is about a 25% decrease compared to the second half of last year (75 companies). Typically, M&A activities among listed companies are more active in the second half of the year.

By market, 17 companies (30%) were listed on the KOSPI, and 39 companies (70%) were listed on the KOSDAQ, increasing by 1 and 9 companies respectively compared to last year. Among these, most pursued mergers (51 companies).

During the same period, the total amount paid by listed companies to shareholders for stock redemption through the Korea Securities Depository was 11.87 billion KRW, a 97% decrease from 392.18 billion KRW in the same period last year. The stock redemption right allows shareholders who opposed a resolution at the board of directors that significantly affects their interests to require the company to purchase their shares. This system was introduced under the Commercial Act and the Capital Markets Act to protect minority shareholders' rights from the tyranny of majority shareholders.

In the KOSPI market, Dongsung Chemical paid the largest amount of stock redemption money at 11.317 billion KRW due to a merger, followed by Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction (034020), which paid 16 million KRW.

In the KOSDAQ market, K&NW, which merged with GI Materials, paid 300 million KRW, and RTcast, which transferred part of its media business to RT Media, paid 183 million KRW in stock redemption money.

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