Kim Hong-gi, CEO of CJ, "Continued Investment in Innovative Growth Projects... Ongoing Efforts to Strengthen Shareholder Rights Including Dividend Increase"

Hong-ki Kim, Co-CEO of CJ Corporation

[Asia Economy Reporter Eunmo Koo] Kim Hong-gi, CEO of CJ, announced that he will achieve future innovative growth through investments and mergers and acquisitions (M&A) focused on innovative growth businesses.

At the 69th regular shareholders' meeting of CJ held on the 29th at the CJ Human Resources Development Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, CEO Kim stated, "We will execute investments and M&A centered on innovative growth businesses selected based on the four future growth engines: culture, platform, wellness (health), and sustainability, continuously expanding into new areas and territories." He also added, "We will continue to discover and nurture new businesses in biotechnology (BT) and IT sectors that align with future trends and technologies."

He also pledged to focus on securing and utilizing top talent. CEO Kim emphasized, "Providing top talent with various opportunities free from seniority-based hierarchy and ensuring fair competition, along with offering exceptional rewards for outstanding performance, is revolutionary organizational culture innovation. We will create an environment where anyone with capability and willpower can become a leader and generate results."

Furthermore, he stated that they will build a super-gap capability in core businesses to secure and strengthen structural competitiveness. CEO Kim said, "We will continuously accelerate digital transformation, invest in research and development (R&D), secure advanced technologies, and establish brands built on customer trust to grow."

He also mentioned ongoing efforts to strengthen shareholder rights. CEO Kim said, "We have increased dividends per share for CJ Corporation and major affiliates, and have continuously promoted the decentralization of shareholders' meetings and the introduction of electronic voting systems to revitalize shareholders' meetings and protect shareholder interests. Going forward, we will continue efforts to enhance shareholder value by achieving management goals through external growth and profitability improvement."

Meanwhile, the agenda items raised that day ? approval of financial statements, appointment of outside directors (Kim Yeon-geun and Han Ae-ra) and audit committee member (Kim Yeon-geun), approval of directors' remuneration limits, and amendment of executive retirement pay regulations ? were all passed.