Goo Bon-seong, Former Vice Chairman of Ourhome, "Speculation on Management Return is Groundless... Must Cooperate with Share Sale"

Koo Bon-sung, Vice Chairman and CEO of Ourhome (left), Koo Ji-eun, former Vice President of Ourhome (current CEO of Calisco).

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-yoon] As the dispute over the management rights of Ourhome intensifies, the side of former Ourhome Vice Chairman Gu Bon-seong has responded to the company's criticism of a "baseless attempt to return to management" by stating that it is "merely speculation."

La D?fense Partners, the advisory firm for the sale of Ourhome's shares, stated in a press release on the 2nd, "Former Vice Chairman Gu decided to sell his shares for the future of Ourhome and is firmly committed to this decision."

They continued, "We believe that the most proper path for Ourhome and its employees is for a reputable and trusted buyer to acquire the shares and, together with capable professional management, envision a future for Ourhome's development. We express deep concern over the recent various speculations and clearly state that there is no intention to interfere in Ourhome's management. Furthermore, the recently requested extraordinary shareholders' meeting was the minimum necessary measure for due diligence and approval of the share transfer related to the sale," they asserted.

Additionally, they added, "He will remain on the board only until a new buyer is confirmed, and will step down without objection at the time the board is reorganized through the new shareholders."

The side of former Vice Chairman Gu emphasized, "The fastest and most certain way to resolve the controversy surrounding Ourhome is the completion of the sale," urging, "We call on Vice Chairman Gu and the current management to put aside unnecessary suspicion and cooperate with the sale."

Ourhome's founder, former Chairman Gu Ja-hak, and his three daughters hold more than 98% of the total shares. Former Vice Chairman Gu holds 38.6% of the shares, while the combined shares of the three sisters, Mihyun, Myeongjin, and Jieun, amount to 59.62%. Former Vice Chairman Gu was ousted and dismissed in June last year amid the management rights dispute. Since then, he announced his intention to sell all his shares and withdraw from management.

At that time, the three sisters united to push out former Vice Chairman Gu, and current CEO Gu Jieun was appointed as the sole representative director. However, the management rights dispute reignited as former Vice Chairman Gu and eldest daughter Mihyun began a joint share sale. After announcing the joint share sale plan on the 13th of this month, former Vice Chairman Gu requested the convening of an extraordinary shareholders' meeting on the 25th to appoint 48 new directors for Ourhome. La D?fense Partners also began distributing a teaser letter last month on the 29th containing information related to the combined 58.62% shareholding of former Vice Chairman Gu and shareholder Gu Mihyun.

Former Vice Chairman Gu explained that he requested the convening of the extraordinary shareholders' meeting to form a neutral management team for the share sale, but Ourhome criticized this as a "baseless attempt to return to management."

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