Investors urge KT&G to spinoff ginseng business

Feb.28.2023
Investors urge KT&G to spinoff ginseng business
Investors demand KT&G split profitable ginseng business, appoint external directors, and improve shareholder return policies.

Several activist investors have filed an injunction with the Daejeon District Court in South Korea, demanding that KT&G address their grievances by spinning off its profitable ginseng business, appointing certain external directors, and strengthening its shareholder return policy.


Investor group led by Singaporean private equity firm Flashlight Capital has repeatedly urged the company to spin off its ginseng business to restore the company's value and stock price.


However, during last month's investor relations event, KT&G refused this request. KT&G Senior Executive Vice President Bang Kyung-man stated, "In the long run, splitting the company has almost no benefit for the company's value or shareholders.


Bang expressed concerns that if the ginseng business department separates, KT&G may lose its "synergy".


During the meeting, KT&G rejected a request from the fund to strengthen KT&G's shareholder return policy. The tobacco manufacturer stated that the current policy "should be temporarily retained.


Lee Sang-hyun, the founder of Flashlight Capital, believes that once KT&G adjusts its investment portfolio to better achieve its environmental, social, and governance goals, its stock price will rebound beyond 140,000 Korean won, which was last seen in 2016.


The stock price of KT&G reached its lowest point on February 17 at KRW 87,100, but has since slightly recovered.


Reference:


Investors are urging KT&G to proceed with the spinoff of their ginseng business.



Disclaimer

This article is provided solely for professional research, industry discussion, and informational purposes. Any references to brands, companies, products, technologies, or policies are made for factual reporting and analytical purposes only, and do not constitute endorsement, recommendation, promotion, or advertising by 2Firsts.

Nicotine-containing products, including but not limited to cigarettes, e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and nicotine pouches, carry significant health risks. Readers are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions, including age restrictions and access limitations.

The information contained in this article should not be regarded as investment, legal, medical, regulatory, or commercial advice. While 2Firsts strives to ensure the accuracy and reliability of its content, it does not assume liability for any direct or indirect loss arising from errors, omissions, inaccuracies, or reliance on the information contained herein.

This article is not intended for individuals below the legal age for accessing tobacco or nicotine-related information in their jurisdiction.

 

Copyright Notice

This article is either original content produced by 2Firsts or content reproduced, translated, summarized, or adapted from third-party sources with attribution where applicable. The intellectual property rights of the original content remain with 2Firsts or the respective original rights holders.

No individual or organization may copy, reproduce, distribute, republish, modify, translate, or otherwise use this content without prior authorization. Any unauthorized use may result in legal action.

For copyright-related inquiries, corrections, or removal requests, please contact: info@2firsts.com.

 

AI-Assisted Translation and Editing Notice

Portions of this article may have been translated, edited, or reviewed with the assistance of artificial intelligence tools to improve efficiency and readability. Due to the limitations of AI-assisted translation and editing, discrepancies, omissions, or inaccuracies may exist when compared with the original source.

Where applicable, readers are advised to refer to the original source for the most complete and accurate information. If you identify any errors or believe that any content infringes upon your rights, please contact us at info@2firsts.com, and we will review and address the matter promptly.

AIR Expects to Complete CAEP Business Combination in Q2 2026 and List on Nasdaq
AIR Expects to Complete CAEP Business Combination in Q2 2026 and List on Nasdaq
AIR Limited and Cantor Equity Partners III announced that the F-4 registration statement related to their proposed business combination was declared effective by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on April 22, 2026. Under the arrangement first announced on Nov. 7, 2025, the combined company, AIR Global PLC, is intended to list on Nasdaq in the United States under the ticker “AIIR.”
Apr.24 by 2FIRSTS.ai
FDA Renews Exposure Modification Authorization for IQOS Devices and Three HeatSticks Products
FDA Renews Exposure Modification Authorization for IQOS Devices and Three HeatSticks Products
U.S. Food and Drug Administration renewed modified risk granted orders for five IQOS products from Philip Morris Products S.A., including two IQOS system holders and chargers and three HeatSticks products. Under the renewed orders, the products may continue to be marketed with an exposure modification claim.
Apr.20 by 2FIRSTS.ai
FDA Launches Elsa 4.0 and Completes HALO Data Platform Consolidation
FDA Launches Elsa 4.0 and Completes HALO Data Platform Consolidation
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced on May 6 that it has advanced its modernization initiative by launching Elsa 4.0, an upgraded internal AI tool, and consolidating more than 40 application and submission data sources, systems and portals into a new platform called HALO. FDA said the integration of HALO and Elsa will allow staff to query data and build workflows without manually uploading documents in each chat.
May.07 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Belgian Health Minister Calls Tobacco Industry “Criminal” After Court Undermines Supermarket Sales Ban
Belgian Health Minister Calls Tobacco Industry “Criminal” After Court Undermines Supermarket Sales Ban
Belgian Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke described the tobacco industry as a “criminal” sector with “no future” during an appearance on VRT’s current affairs program Ter Zake. His comments came after Belgium’s Constitutional Court ruled that a government ban on cigarette and vape sales in supermarkets was discriminatory because it allowed small shops to sell tobacco products while prohibiting larger retailers from doing so.
May.07 by 2FIRSTS.ai
 Zyn Emerges as MAGA Cultural Symbol Amid FDA Policy Shift
Zyn Emerges as MAGA Cultural Symbol Amid FDA Policy Shift
According to The Wall Street Journal, nicotine pouch brand Zyn has rapidly gained popularity across the Trump administration and conservative political circles, including among U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Business
May.20
Argentina Issues Resolution 549/2026 to Regulate Vapes, Heated Tobacco and Nicotine Pouches
Argentina Issues Resolution 549/2026 to Regulate Vapes, Heated Tobacco and Nicotine Pouches
Argentina’s government has created a comprehensive regulatory framework for nicotine products, including vapes, heated tobacco and nicotine pouches, through Resolution 549/2026 published in the Official Gazette. The new regulation ends the previous prohibitive framework and establishes rules to organize the market by requiring traceability, quality standards and mandatory registration for all manufacturers and retailers operating in the country.
May.06 by 2FIRSTS.ai