ABS Elects New Council and Committee Members
At the 151st Annual Meeting of the Members of ABS, and the subsequent meeting of the ABS Council, industry leaders were elected to serve on a number of bodies that contribute to the operation of the classification society as it fulfills its mission of promoting the security of life and property and preserving the natural environment. "ABS' strength as a global classification society is drawn from its membership and the many regional, national and technical committees that contribute to the process of developing practical, impartial and authoritative standards," said ABS Chairman Robert D. Somerville. • Robert G. • James G. • Maria F. • Chow Yew Yuen, Keppel Offshore & Marine USA Inc. • Dr. Jen-Hwa Chen, Chevron Shipping Co. • Dr.
Hyundai Engineering Falls on Concerns of Sale Delay
Hyundai Engineering & Construction Co., fell the most in almost five months in Seoul on concern Korea Development Bank may delay selling its stock in the company, holding up expansion plans, according to Bloomberg.com. Hyundai Engineering declined 7.5 percent to close at 89,500 in Seoul. Daewoo Shipbuilding & Engineering Co., also part-owned by state-owned Korea Development Bank, fell 5.2 percent to 44,550 won, the biggest drop in more than a month. The delay may stem efforts by Hyundai Engineering and Daewoo Shipbuilding to win orders from the global surge in demand for power plants, refineries and ships. Korea Development Bank and other South Korean creditors had planned to start selling their stakes in the two companies last year.
Daewoo Plans To Pay Debt Early
The shipbuilding unit of South Korea's troubled Daewoo Group expects a net profit and more profitable orders in 2001 as it charts a new, independent course. Daewoo Shipbuilding & Engineering Co, split off from troubled Daewoo Heavy Industries last October, said it aimed for net profit of $156.7 million this year, buoyed by strong global orders. "It looks certain that Daewoo Shipbuilding has a great business year ahead of it," said Song Sang-hoon, analyst at Dongwon Economic Research Institute. It also plans to repay 200 billion won of debt this year to free itself from a debt restructuring program undertaken by its creditors in 1999, Daewoo officials said. "Our losses in the past stemmed from problems of other Daewoo affiliates," shipyard spokesman Kim Do-kyun said.
