■ Launches dedicated online platform for transparent information access
■ CEO Park Sang-kyu followed up Shareholder Letters with a press conference on the merger
SK Innovation is garnering significant attention for its proactive efforts to communicate with shareholders in anticipation of its merger with SK E&S. Since August 5th, the company has been operating a dedicated “SK Innovation – SK E&S Merger” site on both its homepage and Naver, Korea’s most popular search engine. This platform provides clear and transparent information about the merger, including integration synergies, responses to key shareholder questions, and details about the upcoming special shareholders’ meeting.
When searching for SK Innovation on Naver, users are directed to a merger-specific site that clearly presents information about enhanced business competitiveness, stable financial structures, and the synergy benefits resulting from the merger.
Given that mergers significantly impact a company’s stock price, it is highly unusual in Korea for a major domestic company to establish a separate online site for direct shareholder communication. However, SK Innovation has taken this extraordinary step to ensure transparency.
While merger-related information is disclosed on the Financial Supervisory Service’s electronic system, general shareholders often find it difficult to fully grasp the specialized content. To address this, SK Innovation spent over two weeks compiling a Q&A section to clarify shareholder concerns.
In addition, SK Innovation has published a newsletter summarizing its second-quarter performance on its website, accompanied by audio files from the recent conference call. For the upcoming extraordinary shareholders’ meeting on August 27th, general shareholders can cast their votes electronically, thereby eliminating the need for physical attendance.
Unlike many domestic companies that rarely disclose conference call details and often restrict electronic voting on sensitive management issues, SK Innovation’s dedication to transparent information sharing and inclusive decision-making has attracted significant attention in financial markets. Moreover, SK Innovation has consistently engaged with major institutional investors as well as domestic and international analysts.
Following the merger announcement, the company organized three business briefings to enhance general shareholders’ understanding of SK E&S’s business and the merger’s benefits, accompanied by the release of relevant materials.
Moreover, immediately following the board’s decision on the merger agenda on July 17th, SK Innovation CEO Park Sang-kyu sent a letter to shareholders outlining the synergies as a “Total Energy & Solution Company,” along with details about the shareholder return policy.
The following day, CEO Park and key SK executives held a press briefing to discuss the significance of the merger, integration synergies, future growth strategies, and vision, providing an additional communication channel for shareholders and other stakeholders.
“Moving forward, we will continue to actively engage and communicate with our shareholders and other stakeholders about the synergies and vision associated with the merger through various channels and methods,” an SK Innovation representative affirmed.
[Photo] “SK Innovation – SK E&S Merger” site main screen