LS Group Chairman Koo Ja-eun Makes First Purchase of LS Marine Solution Shares

It has been confirmed that LS Group Chairman Koo Ja-eun recently purchased shares of LS Marine Solution directly on the market. This is the first time Chairman Koo has acquired a stake in the company since it became a subsidiary of LS Cable & System in August last year.

According to the Financial Supervisory Service's electronic disclosure on December 2, Chairman Koo acquired 19,540 shares of LS Marine Solution over the course of a week from November 20 to 27, securing a 0.03% stake. The market is paying close attention to the fact that among many affiliates, he chose LS Marine Solution as the target for his investment.

LS Marine Solution is the only company in Korea that possesses both submarine cable laying vessels and construction capabilities. Its growth potential is being highlighted in connection with the government's ongoing 'West Coast Energy Expressway' project. The West Coast Energy Expressway is a large-scale project to build power transmission and distribution infrastructure across four routes, including a 430-kilometer section from Haenam in South Jeolla Province to Taean in South Chungcheong Province to West Incheon, and a 190-kilometer section from Saemangeum in North Jeolla Province to Taean to Yeongheung, with a total investment of approximately 12 trillion won.

LS Marine Solution Submarine Cable Laying Vessel.

To install a submarine power grid, both submarine cables and cable laying vessels are essential. LS Marine Solution is currently constructing a new ultra-large high-voltage direct current (HVDC) cable laying vessel with a cable load capacity of 13,000 tons and a total weight of 18,800 tons, which is expected to enhance its ability to respond to future projects.

The government's recent move to clarify the operation plan for the 150 trillion won National Growth Fund is also drawing market attention. Of this, 50 trillion won will be allocated to infrastructure investments such as the Energy Expressway, with both the government and private sector contributing 75 trillion won each. The industry is closely watching the possibility that LS Marine Solution will be included in these projects.

Expansion in the offshore wind power sector is also underway. Last month, LS Marine Solution signed an investment agreement with LS Materials and South Jeolla Province to establish an installation port for offshore wind power. Installation ports are key infrastructure required for the storage, assembly, transportation, installation, and maintenance of large equipment such as wind turbines.

This business momentum is also being reflected in the company's recent stock price. It is analyzed that LS Marine Solution's share price has risen by about 10% over the past 10 trading days, driven by institutional buying.

An industry official said, "LS Marine Solution is considered a key value chain in the West Coast Energy Expressway project. The news of Chairman Koo Ja-eun's stake acquisition and expectations for the National Growth Fund appear to have further boosted the company's share price."