Paving Innovative Pathways to Exceptional Customer Value with STUDIO341
-
Similar Topics
-
By News Reporter
In this installment of On the Job, we explore LG’s IR Division and their efforts to communicate with key stakeholders, sharing progress updates and future plans to enhance the company’s value.
Effective investor relations (IR) are critical to a company’s success, fostering transparency by providing clear and accurate information to investors, analysts and other stakeholders. The role of IR professionals is evolving globally to encompass important corporate functions including sustainability. Rather than merely serving as liaisons between the organization and the financial community, IR teams are increasingly becoming strategic partners, playing a vital role in advancing Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) initiatives that go beyond traditional sustainability reporting.
As a company that has always prioritized transparent communications with customers or investors alike, LG has carefully constructed a highly skilled team of IR practitioners. In this installment of On the Job, we get an “up close” look at LG’s IR Division to learn about their tasks, the challenges they face and what motivates them to excel in their field.
The primary mission of an IR organization is to ensure fair business valuation, create an environment conducive to raising funds through capital markets and maintain a stable shareholder base.
“To achieve this, our Division handles a range of tasks, from responding to investors and overseeing corporate disclosures to announcing earnings and conducting business briefings and shareholder meetings,” said Park Won-jae, head of IR Division at LG Electronics.
IR activities can be broadly categorized into three main areas: enhancing capital market integrity by ensuring compliance with relevant regulations and laws in information sharing; communicating with investors about the company’s management status, strategies and vision through corporate presentations and conferences; and collaborating with related organizations, such as finance, to establish shareholder return policies like dividends or share buybacks to enhance shareholder value.
LG’s IR Division consists of the IR Planning Team and the IR Communications Team. The IR Communications Team focuses on managing interactions with Korean and international investors and handling activities that require a high level of external engagement. Meanwhile, the IR Planning Team oversees policy-related tasks, such as company information disclosures and shareholder meetings.
Given that each team handles different types of tasks with varying scopes of collaboration and expected outcomes, team members need to possess skills and expertise tailored to their specific responsibilities.
“Members of the IR Planning Team must possess a strong awareness of compliance and a thorough understanding of relevant systems and regulations,” stated Lee Seung-ju, head of the IR Planning Team. “In contrast, the IR Communications Team requires exceptional communication skills, as their role involves extensive interaction with both Korean and global investors.” Additionally, it is crucial for members of both teams to have a comprehensive understanding of capital markets, the industry landscape and the various segments of the company’s operations.
The daily routines of LG’s IR Division members are significantly influenced by the time of year. “Our work follows a distinct cycle that typically aligns with quarterly, semi-annual and annual financial reporting schedules,” explained Kim Seung-hyun, head of the IR Communication Team. “Key recurring tasks include annual events such as the general shareholder meeting, quarterly earnings announcements and Non-Deal Roadshows (NDRs).* As these dates approach, our focus shifts to organizing these events.”
For instance, quarterly earnings announcements are generally shared in late April, July, October and January. “In the roughly 20 days leading up to these announcements, we collaborate closely with various organizations across business units to shape the company’s message to the market,” explained Kim. “We carefully consider how this information might impact our stakeholders once it becomes public.”
The annual general shareholder meeting also demands significant attention, as the IR teams must adhere to strict legal procedures under Korea’s Commercial Act. “We typically begin preparations in the fourth quarter for a meeting scheduled for next March, where we will discuss the previous year’s financial results,” added Lee.
In contrast to these predictable, routine activities, the capital markets are constantly evolving, necessitating flexibility and precision in communications and shareholder policy. “Since we are influenced by external variables, our non-routine tasks often involve new or unfamiliar situations, making IR work highly dynamic,” said Kim.
Skilled, creative and highly dedicated, LG’s IR Division has garnered recognition for its stellar work and commitment to transparent communications. Recently, the Division was honored with the Financial Services Commission Chairman’s Award (Grand Prize) at the 2024 Korea IR Awards hosted by the Korea Investor Relations Service. This accolade is not their first; they received the Grand Prize in the Corporate category in 2021 and the IR Council Chairman’s Award (Excellence Award) last year. This recognition is particularly meaningful as corporate value enhancement has become a key focus in global capital markets. LG has been acknowledged by capital market authorities and experts from various fields for its ongoing efforts to communicate with the market in a structured and sincere manner.
LG’s IR Division has been actively incorporating Future Vision 2030, the company’s mid- to long-term strategic direction, into investor communications. With this far-reaching vision, LG aims to drive sustainable growth by transitioning to a future-oriented business model while building on the world-class competitiveness and expertise it has developed over decades in core businesses such as home appliances. The IR Division’s consistent and genuine commitment to enhancing both corporate and shareholder value has been widely praised.
Since the Future Vision 2030 announcement last July, the company has bolstered external communications around business performance and direction. At major IR events, such as the general shareholder meeting, corporate presentations for international investors and investor forums, top LG executives – including the CEO and CFO – have engaged directly with the market in an open, transparent manner. Starting this year, LG has elevated its regular earnings conference calls. Previously led by IR and business unit management executives, the calls are now directly managed by the CFO.
Additionally, early this year, LG announced a new three-year dividend policy to improve shareholder value, featuring an increased payout ratio, a minimum annual dividend and semi-annual dividend payouts. In August, LG led Korea’s top 10 conglomerates by pre-announcing a value-up program focused on enhancing enterprise value. Then, on October 22, LG unveiled its “Corporate Value Enhancement Plan,” integrating its Future Vision 2030 with additional shareholder initiatives, including a target return on equity (ROE) of 10 percent or higher by 2027. Future actions under consideration include canceling existing treasury shares, additional share buybacks and potentially adopting quarterly dividends.
“Through these steps, we’re consistently demonstrating a sincere and proactive commitment to both corporate and shareholder value enhancement,” explained Lee.
Corporate value isn’t just about the numbers on financial statements; it also includes intangibles like future growth potential, the company’s image and brand value. “We have the major responsibility of representing LG Electronics and communicating its true corporate value to the market,” noted Kim. “We strive to be a model IR organization – one that embodies professionalism, passion and authenticity.”
Stay tuned to
link hidden, please login to view to learn more about other teams and roles at LG Electronics. # # #
* Non-Deal Roadshow (NDR) is an activity where a company’s management meets with investors, analysts and other stakeholders to provide insights into the company’s business strategy, financial performance and future outlook. Unlike a Deal Roadshow (DR), which is focused on promoting a specific securities offering or transaction, NDRs can be seen as an IR activity targeting existing shareholders.
-
By News Reporter
Simplifying Complex Driving With Intuitive Navigation Guidance
SEOUL, Nov. 6, 2024 — LG Electronics (LG) has been awarded the prestigious “King Sejong Award” at the 2024 Technology Patent Awards for its pioneering augmented reality (AR) technology designed for vehicles. This annual event, organized by the Korean Intellectual Property Office, recognizes patents registered within the past decade that contribute to enhancing South Korea’s industrial competitiveness.
The patent for LG’s advanced vehicle AR technology was submitted both domestically and internationally in 2022. This innovative system aims to improve the future mobility experience by leveraging AR to visualize various driving scenarios. It generates 3D graphics that provide vehicle information and navigation guidance on in-vehicle displays.
Driving can often be confusing, especially on complex roads or unfamiliar routes, where estimating distances or directions becomes challenging. LG’s in-vehicle AR technology alleviates this confusion by providing clear guidance lines that drivers can easily follow. The system employs sophisticated algorithms to integrate data from various vehicle sensors, including smart cameras, navigation systems and driver assistance sensors, along with external data sources. By harnessing information from GPS, Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and vehicle-to-everything (V2X) technologies, the system can predict potential hazards and accident risks based on the vehicle’s location and surrounding environment, thereby enhancing safety during journeys.
A key feature of LG’s patented technology is its ability to display dynamic AR images. This capability makes route guidance more intuitive by adjusting the symbols representing the vehicle and directional guidance – such as combining a spade and chevron into an arrow shape or separating them – based on real-time driving conditions. The AR graphics can seamlessly separate, transform and merge, allowing the system to visually convey complex driving information, such as speed, incline, lane changes and route recalculations, in a manner that can be easily understood by the driver.
LG plans to leverage this advanced vehicle AR technology to develop future mobility solutions for global automakers and accelerate the development of new mobility software. The company also aims to generate royalty-based revenue from the patent.
“LG is excited to utilize its award-winning AR technology to create mobility solutions that elevate driver convenience and contribute to safer roads for everyone,” said Kim Dong-wook, head of the B2B Advanced Technology Center at LG Electronics. “Moving forward, we will continue to refine our AR technology to ensure compatibility across all vehicle platforms. We anticipate that this exciting innovation will significantly contribute to the growth of our software business.”
# # #
link hidden, please login to view -
By News Reporter
“While IR is traditionally understood as Investor Relations, I view it as Insight Relations.” LG CEO William Cho has often expressed this sentiment, and I wholeheartedly share his point of view. Over the last 25 years, I have dedicated considerable time to understanding the intricacies of the world’s capital markets, including a stint as an analyst in the IT and tech industry. My experiences have shown me that the active exchange of information and knowledge between companies and investors is essential for mutual success. Today, I take great joy and satisfaction in seeing our company make a significant impact in the market and among investors by presenting our latest business strategies. Being part of this new leap forward is truly gratifying.
Last year, we announced a major business transformation, unveiling our vision to become a “Smart Life Solution Company” that connects customer experiences across home, commercial spaces, mobility and even the metaverse. To achieve this, we have set ourselves the “Triple Seven” target: seeking to reach seven percent average growth rate, seven percent operating profit and an enterprise multiple (EV/EBITDA) of seven, all by 2030. We also plan to invest over KRW 50 trillion for qualitative growth by the beginning of the next decade.
Naturally, the attention of Korean and global investors and analysts began to focus on our enterprise value. Numerous questions were raised regarding the foundation and substance of our “Smart Life Solutions,” our growth potential and whether the announced changes were valuable enough to warrant the long-term investment of assets. As an analyst who has witnessed LG’s various transformations and efforts over the years, the initial market reaction was entirely understandable.
Building on “responsibility” and “authentic communication,” which have been upheld as core values of investor relations (IR) for decades, we have expanded the involvement and role of top management, thereby enhancing trust in our corporate activities. We have also significantly improved policies aimed at increasing shareholder value. In addition, we are expanding efforts to contribute to the healthy development of capital markets from a macro perspective.
Communication Leadership
As the shift in business direction marks a critical turning point with regard to the company’s future blueprint, it was only natural for those leading the changes to step forward and take on the role of “communicators.” Accordingly, starting with the
link hidden, please login to view, our CEO, CFO and other top executives have engaged in open and candid communications at key IR events, such as the general shareholders’ meeting, corporate briefings for global investors and . Beginning this year, the regular earnings conference calls, which were previously led by IR and business unit management, are now overseen directly by the CFO. Active Policy Changes to Improve Shareholder Value
In addition, we announced a new three-year dividend policy (covering fiscal years 2024 to 2026) earlier this year aimed at enhancing shareholder value. This policy includes changes such as adjusting the dividend record date, changing the dividend cycle, setting a minimum base dividend and increasing the dividend payout ratio.
In August, we became the first among the affiliates of Korea’s top 10 conglomerates to announce a value-up participation disclosure aimed at enhancing corporate value. On October 22, we ,” a master plan to boost shareholder value and normalize the company’s valuation. To enhance predictability for investors, we will continue with the base (minimum) dividend of KRW 1,000 per share and semi-annual dividends, which both began this year, while also considering quarterly dividends in the future.
Growth with the Market
Most people reading this article are likely well aware that companies, investors and the market are interconnected in an organic relationship. LG Electronics aims for healthy, mutual growth with the capital market. To this end, we have developed an IR Activity Management System that quantitatively analyzes IR activities for publicly listed companies and are sharing our operational know-how both internally and externally. Additionally, we have been collaborating with the Korea Investor Relations Service (KIRS) for several years, giving lectures on the direction of IR activities related to ESG (environmental, social and governance) and consistently contributing to the development of the capital market.
Personally, as an analyst, I take great pride in sharing the knowledge and expertise I have accumulated from working at various companies and, through this, contributing to the positive cycle of market development alongside my colleagues.
Earlier this month, we were honored with the Financial Services Commission Chairman’s Award (Grand Prize), the highest award in the corporate category, at the 2024 Korea IR Awards hosted by the KIRS.* The award holds great significance as it acknowledges our contributions to maintaining systematic and sincere communications with the market, as well as our efforts to secure a stable investment base as recognized by capital market authorities and various experts.
Going forward, we will continue our commitment to proactive and genuine communication across all business activities to further build investor trust. I, too, will continue to strive to establish LG as an “Insight Leader” that drives healthy, mutual growth for the market, companies and investors alike.
By Park Won-jae, vice president and head of IR Division at LG Electronics
# # #
* Hosted by KIRS under the Korea Exchange since 2001, the Korea IR Awards are presented annually to companies and individuals who have contributed to the healthy development of capital markets through effectively IR activities. Companies and individuals recommended by analysts and institutional investors are selected through a rigorous evaluation process conducted by a professional review panel and a selection committee.
-
By News Reporter
SEOUL, Oct. 22, 2024 – LG Electronics (LG) has announced its Corporate Value-up Program, a comprehensive plan that includes mid- to long-term business goals and strategies aimed at enhancing enterprise value. The program also outlines policies and plans to enhance shareholder value and future returns.
LG believes that sustained growth is the key to enhancing enterprise value. Guided by its “Future Vision 2030,” which focuses on evolving into a future-oriented business structure and achieving sustainable growth, the company is consistently working on transforming its business portfolio.
The goal is to achieve KRW 100 trillion in revenue and meet its “Triple Seven” targets: a 7 percent average annual growth rate, a 7 percent operating profit rate and an enterprise multiple (EV/EBITDA) of 7. By 2030, LG expects that the transformed business portfolio areas will account for 52 percent of total sales and 76 percent of operating profit, with an aim for a return on equity (ROE) of over 10 percent by 2027.
The shareholder return policy included in this value-up program will be applied for three years, from the 2024 business year to the 2026 business year. It will utilize more than 25 percent of the consolidated net income based on controlled shares (excluding one-off non-recurring profit) for shareholder returns.
To enhance shareholder value, the company will continuously review incinerating current treasury shares and explore further buyback options.
# # #
link hidden, please login to view 
-
By News Reporter
LG Aims to Expand Its B2B Offerings and
Build a Growth-Driven Portfolio in Emerging Sectors
SEOUL, Oct. 10, 2024 — LG Electronics (LG) held a press conference today at LG Digital Park in South Korea to share its future vision for the B2B sector with domestic journalists. The company outlined its goal for the LG Business Solutions (BS) Company to achieve KRW 10 trillion in annual revenue by 2030.
At its 2024 Investor Forum in August, LG highlighted the acceleration of its B2B operations as one of the central components of its business portfolio innovation strategy. By 2030, the company expects that its B2B concerns will account for 45 percent of total sales.
LG plans to strengthen its leading B2B businesses, such as hotel and hospital TVs, digital signage and premium laptops, while also focusing on medical monitors and electric vehicle (EV) chargers to build a sustainable, growth-focused portfolio.
Additionally, the company is rapidly strengthening its B2B capabilities across a wide range of areas, including vehicle components, HVAC systems, built-in appliances and smart factory solutions. The expansion into mobility and new business segments is part of the company’s strategy to accelerate its business transformation.
Leading LG’s flagship B2B businesses, the LG BS Company offers customized digital signage for various commercial spaces, including hotels, retail stores, offices, schools and hospitals, as well as IT products ranging from high-spec monitors to LG gram laptops, commercial robots and EV charging solutions.
The B2B sector is less affected by economic fluctuations than B2C, resulting in comparatively stable revenue and profits. Another advantage of B2B is the “lock-in” effect, which typically leads to close, long-term relationships with customers and a virtuous cycle of mutual growth.
“Over the past 66 years, LG has accumulated valuable insights into its customers and the diverse spaces they occupy through its consumer electronics business,” said Jang Ik-hwan, president of LG Business Solutions Company. “Going forward, we will leverage this expertise to offer tailored services and differentiated solutions to our business customers, further cementing our reputation as a trusted partner in the competitive B2B market. The BS Company is seeking to double its current revenue, reaching KRW 10 trillion by 2030.”
Driving the Commercial Display Market with Premium Signage and Hospitality TVs
LG has gained a leading position in the B2B display solution market thanks to its top-tier commercial display technology, premium digital signage and strong performance in the global hotel and hospital TV segments. LG’s information display business has experienced steady growth since 2019, recording an average annual growth rate of seven percent.
LG will continue to expand its display solutions business with products tailored for various spaces. The focus will be on premium fine-pitch LED signage (including All-in-One LED and Micro LED models), a product category that has seen a double-digit rise in revenue each year.
At the forefront of this expansion is the cutting-edge LG MAGNIT Micro LED display. LG MAGNIT is offered in various formats, including an all-in-one model for conference rooms, a model designed for virtual production studios, a premium home cinema edition and a model with a separate power supply unit (PSU). Since 2020, MAGNIT has recorded an impressive growth rate, with its annual revenue growth nearing a twofold increase on average over the past four years.
Additionally, LG is strengthening its portfolio of innovative digital signage solutions with products such as the next-generation LG Micro LED display, which is set to launch later this year. LG has employed the latest AI technology for its upcoming Micro LED, both during the production process and to create intelligent image-quality algorithms that help ensure superior visual performance. As part of the manufacturing process, AI is used to assess and select each of the product’s approximately 25 million LED chips (based on a 136-inch model). Meanwhile, the AI processor applied to the LG Micro LED display analyzes and optimizes color and brightness in real-time to deliver optimal picture quality.
To drive future growth, LG is actively working to identify potential demand and will keep on adding to its diverse lineup of tailored hardware and software solutions for commercial spaces.
Preferred by customers around the world, LG’s hospitality TVs boast many user-friendly features, including the ability to wirelessly mirror personal devices screens via Google Chromecast or Apple AirPlay. Hotel guests simply scan the QR code displayed on the TV to watch content from their device on the TV’s larger screen. To protect users’ privacy, viewing history and connection data are automatically deleted upon check out.
LG continues to maintain its strong leadership in the global hospitality TV market, and is collaborating with renowned international hotel chains including IHG Hotels & Resorts, and Hyatt.
In addition to its hardware offerings, LG provides a variety of cloud solutions through its online B2B platform, LG Business Cloud. These include the LG DOOH Ads digital signage advertising solution, LG SuperSign Cloud and Pro:Centric digital signage and hospitality TV content management solutions, and LG ConnectedCare remote monitoring and management solution.
To accelerate its expansion into new business areas and enhance overall competitiveness, LG is fostering strategic partnerships with global B2B companies. It recently signed a memorandum of understanding with office solutions provider Ricoh to explore the development of comprehensive enterprise services.
Strengthening LG’s Position as a Leading EV Charging Solutions Provider
LG is set to expedite its growth in promising new business areas, with the company’s EV charger business standing out as an emerging “unicorn.” Through strategic partnerships and investment, LG is poised to increase its presence in the global EV charger market.
LG opened its EV charger production factory in the U.S. (Texas) in January of this year and in June reached an agreement with ChargePoint, a leading provider of networked charging solutions for EVs in North America. The two companies are collaborating to expand their businesses by boosting product sales through distribution channels, reinforcing their product portfolios and jointly developing next-generation solutions. Additionally, LG is leveraging its extensive B2B sales network in the U.S., established through its nationwide success in hospitality TVs and digital signage, to actively target the country’s increased demand for EV charging infrastructure. This includes the necessary charging framework for hotels, shopping malls and retail stores, as well as highway charging stations and depots.
LG aims to secure around eight percent of the U.S. fast charger market by 2030 and position itself as a global top-tier provider of EV charging solutions.
At present, LG offers six types of EV chargers, including 7kW and 11kW slow chargers, and 100kW, 175kW, and 200kW fast-charging models.1 In addition, the company is producing a 350kW ultra-fast charger for the North American market and plans to release two slow-charging models – 30kW and 7kW – targeting the European market, all scheduled to launch by the end of this year.
Furthermore, LG is proactively addressing concerns over EV charger safety by implementing various fire-prevention solutions.
The charging control system applied to LG’s EV chargers prevents overcharging, which is one of the leading causes of EV charging safety incidents. The control system automatically stops charging when the vehicle battery reaches 80 percent during fast charging and 100 percent during slow charging. Additionally, LG chargers are equipped with a load management system that allocates electricity based on the installation site’s power capacity, ensuring stable charging even with limited power availability.2
The installation environment and consumer safety are key considerations in the design of every EV charger that LG makes. The company’s 175kW fast-charging model operates reliably in extreme temperatures ranging from -35 to 55 degrees Celsius and boasts an IP55 rating for water and dust resistance, along with an IK10 rating for impact resistance. Additionally, LG EV chargers comply with Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) regulations for the use of ten harmful chemicals such as lead, cadmium and mercury during the manufacturing process.
Prioritizing Medical Monitors as a Key Growth Engine
LG is focusing on the medical monitor sector as a new growth driver for its IT business, with plans to become a global top-three medical monitor provider within the next five years.
Medical monitors are required to meet the medical device regulations of each country, as well as medical imaging display standards, such as DICOM Part 14. Delivering excellent image accuracy and reliability, these monitors are considered premium products with high entry barriers, and are recognized as high-value-added products. According to market research firm Omdia, the global medical monitor market is expected to reach approximately USD 2.5 billion in value by 2030. In markets such as North America and Europe, hospitals are required to use medical-grade monitors for the reviewing of medical images obtained from X-rays, endoscopies and other procedures. With these strict regulations in place, the market for medical-grade monitors is expected to grow significantly in the future.
Launched in 2016, LG’s medical monitor business has steadily expanded in size, achieving close to double-digit annual growth in North America and Europe. Its product lineup, which is now available in more than 50 countries worldwide, currently comprises 14 types of medical monitors – including clinical, diagnostic and surgical models – and six types of digital X-ray detectors (DXDs).
LG offers healthcare institutions a diverse range of medical monitors, including surgical monitors with Mini-LED technology, specialized diagnostic monitors for mammography and high-resolution displays with screen-split features. By adopting a turnkey solution approach, LG has enhanced its competitiveness in the global medical display market and set a solid foundation for future growth.
In 2023, the company made significant strides in the medical display segment by securing a four-year, EUR 10 million contract with Centrale d’Achat de l’Informatique Hospitalière (CAIH), France’s public hospital IT purchasing center, for the supply of medical monitors. Looking ahead, LG plans to integrate AI technology into the data analysis and solutions derived from its medical monitors and digital X-ray detectors, and is also considering an entry into the medical imaging equipment sector.
LG’s success in the B2B sector owes much to the company’s technology and knowhow accumulated over many years in the B2C market. Recently, LG is in discussions regarding a contract to supply a U.S. financial services company with custom-built, high-resolution monitors for a period of five years. LG has supplied dual monitors to a U.S. financial media company and provided in-flight entertainment (IFE) displays to international airlines.
# # #
1 LG’s 7kW and 11kW slow chargers and 100kW fast charger are available in South Korea, while the 175kW and 200kW fast-charging models are available in North America.
2 LG’s load management solution, which has already been applied to the company’s fast- and slow-charging EV charging solutions in North America, will be introduced in South Korea beginning next month.
link hidden, please login to view
-
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.