Celltrion announced Wednesday the cancellation of 9.11 million treasury shares, valued at approximately 1.72 trillion won ($1.1 billion). This represents the company’s largest share cancellation to date.
The board-approved action eliminates roughly 4 percent of Celltrion’s outstanding shares, exceeding the combined 1.6 trillion won worth of share cancellations executed in 2024 and 2025.
Included in the cancelled shares are 3 million shares previously designated for employee stock option programs. This move highlights Celltrion’s dedication to maximizing shareholder value.
After the cancellation, Celltrion will maintain approximately 3.23 million treasury shares. The company intends to strategically utilize these shares for future growth initiatives, including mergers and acquisitions (M&A), technology development, and facility investments.
This decision follows Celltrion’s shareholder return rate of approximately 103 percent in the past year. This was supported by a 750 won per share cash dividend and share cancellations, which more than doubled the company’s three-year average target of 40 percent under its corporate value enhancement plan.
The dividend was distributed as a tax-exempt payout by converting capital reserves into retained earnings, effectively increasing returns for shareholders.
“In the face of increasing global uncertainty, we have implemented a large-scale share cancellation as planned,” a Celltrion representative stated. “We are committed to further enhancing both corporate growth and shareholder value based on the trust of our investors.”
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