Lee Jay-yong, the heir apparent of South Korea's No. 1 conglomerate Samsung Group, is unlikely to offload shares of Samsung SDS Co., one of the group's key IT arms, although the lock-up period for the stocks held by major shareholders has expired, industry sources said Thursday.

Samsung SDS was listed on South Korea's main bourse in November, and the six-month lock-up period for large shareholders' stakes ended earlier Thursday, which means that Jay-yong and his family members are now allowed to sell their stakes in Samsung SDS.

Under the local financial law, major shareholders are banned from trading their shares of newly listed companies for six months from the day of the market debut. Samsung SDS was listed Nov. 14.

Jay-yong, the only son of the group's de facto head, Kun-hee, holds an 11.25 percent stake in Samsung SDS, with his two sisters -- Boo-jin, head of Hotel Shilla Co., and Seo-hyun, head of the fashion division at Cheil Industries Inc., -- each holding a 3.09 percent stake.

"Considering that there are lingering controversies over Samsung SDS shares (held by the owner family), it is unreasonable to think that they will sell shares immediately," a high-ranking Samsung official said.

The listing of Samsung SDS was viewed by many as a means for Jay-yong and his sisters to generate cash that would fund the inheritance tax for the group's managerial transfer to the three children.

Samsung has been speeding up its structural reorganization after Kun-hee was hospitalized in mid-May of last year after suffering a heart attack. His vacancy gave urgency to the transfer of management to his children.

Jay-yong acquired Samsung SDS shares in 1999 through the purchase of bonds with warrants with only 10.3 billion won, drawing harsh criticism for the shoddy deal.

Market watchers estimate the heir apparent will reap at least 2 trillion won from the sale of his stake. NH Investment & Securities Co. said Jay-yong and his two sisters will have to pay at least 6 trillion won to inherit Kun-hee's assets.

Some market watchers have been taking a cautious approach toward Samsung SDS shares as the Samsung owner family may offload their stakes for profits, which may have an adverse impact on retail investors.

Shares of Samsung SDS closed 1.53 percent higher at 266,000 won ($242.30) on the main bourse Thursday, when the benchmark KOSPI gained 0.29 percent. (Yonhap)