Samsung Electronics Co., South Korea's largest firm by market value, has been considering splitting its stock to lower the high price tag of its shares but will look more into the long-term effect before making any decision, a senior executive said Tuesday.
"(Samsung Electronics) has been looking into whether stock splits actually have a positive impact on the company's value," Lee Myung-jin, a senior investor relations official at Samsung Electronics, said in a meeting hosted by the Korea Exchange.
"Although we acknowledge the psychological impact (of a stock split), how it can affect the long-term value of the company needs further study."
The country's main bourse operator has been encouraging the company to divide the number of its existing shares to make them more affordable to individual investors. Its stocks scored 2.16 percent to end at 1,372,000 won ($1,260) in the Seoul trading, outperforming the benchmark KOSPI's 0.82 percent gain.
The bourse operator on Tuesday vowed to adopt measures to promote stock splits and boost liquidity in the stock market.
"The turnover of Samsung Electronics shares accounts for 0.09 percent in the KOSPI, so it needs to adopt shareholder-friendly measures," KRX Chairman Choi Kyung-soo said, noting that there are three to five listed firms considering stock splits.
Among them were Amore Pacific Co., the nation's top cosmetics maker, and Lotte Group, whose food and beverage affiliate shares are priced at more than 1 million won.
"Amore Pacific's stocks rapidly surged last year thanks to strong earnings and expectations on the company's long-term growth.
We will consider stock splits, taking into consideration the firm's growth and measures aimed at boosting trading," said Shin Hee-cheol, a senior official at Amore Pacific.
Amore's shares jumped 122 percent last year, pushing up the price to more than 2 million won. Its shares rose 3.59 percent Tuesday to 2,450,000 won. Naver Co. the nation's No. 1 portal operator, also said it will consider splitting its existing shares. The firm's stocks edged up 1.8 percent to close at 790,000 won. (Yonhap)
