Samsung Electronics says considering stock split

January 20, 2015 | 13:23

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Samsung Electronics is actively considering a share split in order to attract new investors.

Samsung electronics says it is considering a share split. (File photo: AFP/Jung Yeon-Je)

SEOUL: The world's largest smartphone maker, Samsung Electronics, said Tuesday (Jan 20) it was considering a stock split that would placate existing investors and attract new ones with a more affordable share price.

Head of investor relations Robert Yi said the South Korean tech giant had been looking into a possible split "for a while" but was still debating the benefits of such a move. "We know it would have a psychological impact, but need to look further at how that might affect the company's long-term value," Yi told reporters.

Samsung has been under growing pressure to boost shareholder returns as its stock price has been battered by a series of quarterly profit falls. Samsung shares were trading Tuesday at 1.356 million won (US$1,250)compared to a high of 1.470 million won in June last year.

Samsung is currently in the middle of a US$2.0 billion share buyback process announced in November to appease disgruntled shareholders. With a market capitalisation of about US$185 billion, Samsung accounts for nearly 17 per cent of the weighting on South Korea's benchmark Kospi composite index.

AFP

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