Seoul-based private equity firm Hahn & Co. will award employees of Namyang Dairy Products Co., a South Korean dairy product producer, 1.6 billion won ($1.2 million) worth of treasury shares in recognition of Namyang’s successful turnaround under its management.
Each of Namyang’s 1,546 employees will receive 16 shares, valued at 1.04 million won based on the company’s closing stock price on Tuesday, under a compensation plan approved by Namyang’s board of directors on Wednesday, the PE firm said.
The shares will be distributed without restrictions on resale.
The board also approved the cancellation of 9.8 billion won worth of treasury shares as part of a broader shareholder-friendly policy.
Since holding the reins, the buyout fund has focused on restructuring Namyang’s governance and operations, implementing measures to boost efficiency and transparency.
It has also buoyed Namyang shares through a 10-for-1 stock split and multiple share buyback and cancellation programs valued altogether at 60 billion won.
Namyang shares added 3.7% to close at 67,200 won on Wednesday.
Hahn & Co. manages a portfolio of 38 companies with combined assets of $30.1 billion, making it Korea's largest institutional private equity company.
Write to Sookyung Seo at skseo@hankyung.com Joel Levin edited this article.