SK Hynix Responds to "100 Trillion Won" Shareholder Return Plan: Specific Scale Is Not Accurate
Claire Weston
SK Hynix on June 16 denied plans for a KRW 100 trillion shareholder return program, calling the reported scale 'not accurate' — but confirmed it is exploring multiple options to boost shareholder value, keeping market expectations alive ahead of its U.S. ADR listing.
What did the rumor claim?
Korea Economic Daily reported that SK Hynix planned to launch a shareholder return program worth up to KRW 100 trillion (~$66.4 billion) after completing its ADR listing in the U.S.
The program reportedly included stock buybacks and cash dividends, described as a signature move by SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won.
This means → if true, this would rank among the largest shareholder return commitments in Korean semiconductor history — hence the intense market attention.
How did the company respond?
SK Hynix stated that the specific return scale cited in the report is "not accurate."
The company confirmed it is "exploring multiple options" to enhance shareholder value, but stressed it has never discussed the specific figures reported.
In plain terms = the company denied the number, not the intent — cooling the headline while leaving the door open.
How is the ADR listing shaping up?
The report said SK Hynix plans to raise roughly KRW 40 trillion (~$26.5 billion) by issuing new shares via ADR.
To ease dilution concerns, the offering size was reportedly cut from 2.4% to below 2% of total shares outstanding.
This means → management made a concession between fundraising scale and existing-shareholder sentiment — a sign it takes dilution risk seriously.
Where would the money go?
Proceeds from the ADR listing are expected to fund AI infrastructure buildout.
SK Hynix is one of the world's top suppliers of HBM — high-bandwidth memory chips essential for AI training — and capacity expansion demands heavy capital.
This reflects a clear strategic direction: even with the return-plan scale in doubt, SK Hynix is using the ADR to unlock dollar funding and double down on AI capacity.
Content is for reference only, not financial advice.