Hahn & Co. to award bonus shares to Namyang staff, retires $7.1 mn in shares

The stock grants come after the S. Korean dairy firm succeeded in turning around under the PEF's control

Namang Dairy headquarters 
Namang Dairy headquarters 
Sookyung Seo 2
2025-07-09 17:07:37 skseo@hankyung.com
Korean Investors

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.

TURNAROUND AFTER THE END OF LEGAL BATTLES



Hahn & Co., one of South Korea’s top three private equity firms, agreed to take over Namyang’s 53.08% stake from former Chairman Hong Won-sik and his family in 2021 and became the controlling shareholder in January 2024 following a protracted legal battle with the founding family over management control.

The legal fight was triggered after Hong abruptly canceled the deal a few months later.

Hahn & Co. to award bonus shares to Namyang staff, retires .1 mn in shares

During the three-year dispute, Namyang, once Korea’s largest dairy company, saw its sales and market capitalization plunge. 

But under Hahn & Co.’s stewardship, the company returned to profitability in the third quarter of last year and has remained in the black since.

In March 2024, Namyang shareholders approved a proposal to replace Namyang’s board with Hahn & Co.-appointed executives and other new members, formally ending family control of the 60-year-old dairy and beverage group.

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.

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