Harim Acquires Pan Ocean
South Korean poultry processor Harim Corp. is set to wrap up its purchase of troubled dry bulk carrier Pan Ocean Co. after creditors and shareholders approved a rescue plan for the country's biggest bulk carrier. Harim, partnering with JKL Partners, participated in the bid last year and was picked as the preferred bidder in December. The company paid over 1 trillion won ($895.5 billion) for the deal earlier this month. Singapore and Seoul-listed Pan Ocean’s rehabilitation plan has been approved by the Seoul Central District Court, following the agreement of more than two thirds of unsecured claims creditors (87.0%) and more than half of shareholders (61.6%), the bulker owner said in a stock exchange filing.
Harim to Expand Pan Ocean with Grain
Firm aims to hike Pan Ocean sales to over 10 trln won in 5-6 years. South Korea's Harim Group aims to grow sales at the country's largest bulk shipper Pan Ocean Co Ltd, which it plans to acquire, seven times to more than 10 trillion won ($8.97 billion) annually within five to six years. The livestock and animal feed group plans to add a grains trading business to shipper Pan Ocean with the aim of building it into it a major dealer in the sector, Harim chairman, Kim Hong-kuk, told Reuters on Thursday. "Those who had previously owned Pan Ocean did only shipping, but we will add grain trading," Kim said during an interview in his office in Seongnam, south of Seoul. "We have done lots of business in livestock sectors requiring grains as raw materials.
