Hanul Semiconductor Acquires Entire Largest Shareholder Stake in Hanul & Jeju, Resolving Management Control Uncertainty

Hanul Semiconductor, a company specializing in core component inspection equipment and systems, announced on January 2 that it has withdrawn its plan to sell its stake in Hanul & Jeju (formerly Jeju Beer) and has acquired the entire stake held by K Partners No.1 Investment Association, the former largest shareholder of Hanul & Jeju.

With this decision, the uncertainty regarding the change of the largest shareholder of Hanul & Jeju, which had recently been raised in the market, has been resolved. The company also clarified its commitment to strengthening responsible management and protecting shareholder value. In particular, this move is seen as a decision focused on Hanul & Jeju’s mid- to long-term growth strategy, going beyond a simple financial judgment. As a major shareholder, Hanul Semiconductor plans to actively participate in management, prioritizing the enhancement of corporate value and management stability.

On December 25, K Partners No.1 Investment Association invested 12 billion won in Hanul & Jeju through a third-party paid-in capital increase, securing a 29.24% stake and becoming the largest shareholder. Subsequently, concerns were raised about potential conflicts of interest after it became known that the new largest shareholder had decided to acquire real estate in Jeju worth 25.5 billion won. In response, the management and largest shareholder of Hanul & Jeju decided to withdraw from the real estate acquisition on December 17, prioritizing stable business operations and the protection of shareholders and investors.

A company representative stated, "We considered acquiring the property because of its beautiful natural scenery and the presence of well-known food and beverage brands, which would have supported Jeju Beer’s marketing expansion and free tastings for tourists. However, due to concerns about harming shareholder value, we inevitably withdrew from the acquisition and focused on quickly resolving potentially controversial issues to protect shareholder trust."

Hanul Semiconductor plans to further strengthen its strategic relationship with Hanul & Jeju following this decision. As the largest shareholder, the company intends to participate responsibly in major decision-making and aims to enhance management stability by strengthening business competitiveness, improving the financial structure, and establishing transparent governance.

A company representative said, "The acquisition of the investment association’s stake and the withdrawal of the planned stake sale clearly demonstrate our commitment to responsible management of the investee company. It was also logically inconsistent to sell our existing stake in the market while acquiring the largest shareholder stake."

The representative added, "We will fulfill our responsibilities as a shareholder and make a tangible contribution to the sustainable growth and enhancement of corporate value at Hanul & Jeju, our investee company."