Mirae Asset Securities to buy back KRW 100 billion worth of treasury shares… stock options granted to digital and Web3 talent

Mirae Asset Securities said on the 26th it convened the “1st Board of Directors Meeting of 2026” and approved agenda items to repurchase approximately KRW 100 billion worth of treasury shares and to grant stock options to core digital talent.

The planned buyback totals about KRW 60 billion of common shares and about KRW 40 billion of Series 2 preferred shares (Series 2 Preferred B). The buyback will be carried out via on-exchange purchases within three months starting the day after the board resolution date.

The company said the treasury-share acquisition is intended to ensure the consistent and stable execution of its shareholder-return policy. It also plans to phase in treasury-share retirement in line with future policies.

Mirae Asset Securities’ current price-to-book ratio (PBR) is about 1.6x, a level at which dividends are generally more favorable than retirement. Even so, it decided to buy back common shares to implement its mid- to long-term shareholder-return policy of retiring 15 million common shares and more than 1 million Series 2 preferred shares each year from 2024 through 2026.

It also expects the use of Series 2 Preferred B—through which more shares can be bought back and retired for the same amount—to reduce the number of shares outstanding. The company’s strategy is that this will lift dividends per share and accelerate growth in book value per share (BPS), thereby enhancing shareholder value.

The board also approved granting employee stock purchase options (stock options) to 16 specialists in key digital fields such as AI, blockchain, and Web3.0. The total grant size is 1.1 million shares, with an exercise price of KRW 29,450 per share. The stock options are granted as of the board resolution date.

The move is aimed at securing key talent to drive future growth amid a rapidly changing financial environment. Mirae Asset Securities is pursuing its “Mirae Asset 3.0” strategy, which integrates traditional and digital assets, and is recruiting AI and digital professionals with master’s and doctoral degrees by offering compensation of at least KRW 100 million per year.

A Mirae Asset Securities official said, “This board decision is intended to pursue two goals in a balanced manner—shareholder returns and future growth,” adding, “We will continue to grant stock options to key talent and strengthen long-term competitiveness through ongoing efforts to enhance shareholder value.”

Reporter Jeon Ye-jin ace@hankyung.com