Meritz Securities Gives Positive Evaluation on KT&G Chairman Appointment

News by 2FIRSTS.ai
Feb.26.2024
Meritz Securities Gives Positive Evaluation on KT&G Chairman Appointment
Meritz Securities praises KT&G's appointment of Bang Kyung-man as new chairman, anticipating business growth and shareholder rewards under his leadership.

According to a report by the Korean news agency Yonhap on February 26, the securities company Meritz Securities gave a positive evaluation on the appointment of Bang Kyung-man as the new chairman of KT&G. Analysts expect his tenure to bring business growth and strengthened shareholder returns measures.

 

According to reports, KT&G announced on the 22nd of this month that Bang Kyung-man is expected to succeed as the company's president. Kim Jung-wook from the research department of Meritz Securities analyzed that Bang's extensive industry experience will play a leadership role in the company's mid- to long-term development strategy focusing on e-cigarettes, health functional products, and the global CC core businesses. The KT&G president nomination committee announced on the 22nd that Bang Kyung-man has been selected as the final candidate for the next president and recommended to the board of directors. 

 

The appointment of the next CEO and president will be decided at the annual shareholders meeting scheduled for the end of March. However, activist fund Flashlight Capital Partners (FCP) recently criticized KT&G's president selection process and has written to the National Pension Service urging them to exercise their voting rights in the election. This fund previously prevented the re-election of the CEO of KT Corporation in late 2022 and recently criticized the selection process for the next chairman of POSCO, raising concerns about whether they will exercise their voting rights at the upcoming shareholders meetings of KT&G next month.

 

We welcome news tips, article submissions, interview requests, or comments on this piece.

Please contact us at info@2firsts.com, or reach out to Alan Zhao, CEO of 2Firsts, on LinkedIn


Notice

1.  This article is intended solely for professional research purposes related to industry, technology, and policy. Any references to brands or products are made purely for objective description and do not constitute any form of endorsement, recommendation, or promotion by 2Firsts.

2.  The use of nicotine-containing products — including, but not limited to, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, nicotine pouchand heated tobacco products — carries significant health risks. Users are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions.

3.  This article is not intended to serve as the basis for any investment decisions or financial advice. 2Firsts assumes no direct or indirect liability for any inaccuracies or errors in the content.

4.  Access to this article is strictly prohibited for individuals below the legal age in their jurisdiction.

 

Copyright

 

This article is either an original work created by 2Firsts or a reproduction from third-party sources with proper attribution. All copyrights and usage rights belong to 2Firsts or the original content provider. Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or any other form of unauthorized use by any individual or organization is strictly prohibited. Violators will be held legally accountable.

For copyright-related inquiries, please contact: info@2firsts.com

 

AI Assistance Disclaimer

 

This article may have been enhanced using AI tools to improve translation and editorial efficiency. However, due to technical limitations, inaccuracies may occur. Readers are encouraged to refer to the cited sources for the most accurate information.

We welcome any corrections or feedback. Please contact us at: info@2firsts.com

2Firsts’ Nine Global Turning Points: How 2025 Reshaped the Nicotine Industry
2Firsts’ Nine Global Turning Points: How 2025 Reshaped the Nicotine Industry
In 2025, the global nicotine industry reached a critical turning point. Regulatory realignment, category shifts, capital repositioning and technological intervention unfolded in parallel, loosening old structures while new ones took shape. 2Firsts reviews nine pivotal events that reshaped the industry’s trajectory.
Jan.14
Russia to Start Extrajudicial Blocking of Sites Selling Tobacco and Nicotine Products Online From March 1
Russia to Start Extrajudicial Blocking of Sites Selling Tobacco and Nicotine Products Online From March 1
Russia will introduce an extrajudicial (non-court) blocking mechanism starting March 1, 2026, allowing authorities to block websites selling tobacco and nicotine-containing products online without a court order. State Duma member Anton Nemkin said the change will place offending sites directly onto the prohibited information registry, speeding up enforcement, reducing the court burden, and increasing platform obligations to proactively monitor content.
Jan.29 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Croatian decree raises excise duties on tobacco products effective January 1, 2026
Croatian decree raises excise duties on tobacco products effective January 1, 2026
Croatian government decree provides that higher excise duties on tobacco manufactures and tobacco products take effect from January 1, 2026. Excise on e-liquid is set at €0.25 per millilitre, on heated tobacco products at €211.30 per kilogram, and on a new tobacco product at €126.90 per kilogram. The decree’s explanation says 2026 budget revenue from these excises is expected to increase by €129.1 million.
Jan.07 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Bangkok Police Bust Illegal E-Cigarette Warehouse, Seize Vapes Worth Over $112,000
Bangkok Police Bust Illegal E-Cigarette Warehouse, Seize Vapes Worth Over $112,000
Thai police raided an illegal e-cigarette warehouse, arrested a man accused of selling vapes online, and seized a large quantity of improperly imported products worth more than 4 million baht (about $112,000).
Dec.25 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Maldives Customs Report Vape Fines Reach  US$42.8 Million, Mostly from Malaysia Imports
Maldives Customs Report Vape Fines Reach US$42.8 Million, Mostly from Malaysia Imports
Maldives Customs data shows that fines related to illegal vapes have reached MVR 659 million (about US$42.8 million) since the country banned the import and use of electronic cigarettes. Authorities said most seized vapes were brought in by travellers arriving from Malaysia. The largest single case involved 10,800 vapes, resulting in a fine of MVR 108 million (about US$7.02 million).
Dec.23 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Six Years of Data Show FDA Clearing PMTA Backlog
Six Years of Data Show FDA Clearing PMTA Backlog
FDA data from FY2020 to FY2025 show how the PMTA system for e-cigarette products evolved after an early surge of submissions created prolonged front-end delays. Millions of applications accumulated at the Acceptance stage before entering substantive review. Since 2023, the number of applications pending acceptance has declined sharply, and industry participants report shorter initial decision timelines in late 2025.
Feb.06