Hanjin files for Receivership, Ports Turn Away Vessels
Hanjin says asks court for its assets to be frozen; Hyundai Merchant looking to buy Hanjin's "good" assets. South Korea's Hanjin Shipping Co Ltd filed for court receivership on Wednesday after losing the support of its banks, setting the stage for its assets to be frozen as ports from China to Spain denied access to its vessels. Banks led by state-run Korea Development Bank (KDB) withdrew backing for the world's seventh-largest container carrier on Tuesday, saying a funding plan by its parent group was inadequate to tackle debt that stood at 5.6 trillion won ($5 billion) at the end of 2015. Hanjin Shipping, South Korea's biggest shipping firm…
Seoul's Effort to Calm Shipping Sector Storm
South Korea will pump $9.5bn (11 trillion won) into state-run policy lenders reeling from huge losses on loans made to the beleaguered shipbuilding and shipping sectors to help them deal with further corporate distress, says FT. South Korea's fund will support two state-run banks most exposed to shipping and shipbuilding firms currently being restructured. The China slowdown is partly to blame. The two state-run banks to be capitalised are Korea Development Bank (KDB) and the Export-Import Bank of Korea (KEXIM). "The fund will buy hybrid bonds issued by state-run banks," Finance Minister Yoo Il Ho said. "We will swiftly carry out restructuring of shipping and shipbuilding companies under the principle that the companies strictly implement their own reform plans and take losses incurred" .
S.Korea Creates $9.5 Bln Fund for Banks Exposed to Shipyard Troubles
South Korea's government and central bank will create an 11 trillion won ($9.50 billion) fund to support two state-run banks most exposed to the country's struggling shipping and shipbuilding firms. "Our key industries like shipping and shipbuilding are being aggressively caught up by countries like China and management conditions have worsened due to weak global trade," Finance Minister Yoo Il-ho said in a speech announcing the corporate restructuring plans on Wednesday. South…
As Korean Shipyards Founder, Central Bank Dragged into Rescue Bid
They are South Korea's "too-big-to-fail" firms - the world's largest shipbuilders that are both a massive economic force and an important national symbol - and the government wants the central bank to fund an unconventional rescue of the sector. The three biggest shipbuilders - Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering, Hyundai Heavy Industries Co Ltd and Samsung Heavy Industries Co Ltd - sustained record losses last year, dragged down by the global commodities plunge and falling trade volumes. The government wants the central bank to print money to buy bonds in two state banks propping up shipyards as well as shippers - a measure some officials call quantitative easing. Publicly, the Bank of Korea (BOK) says it is willing to cooperate.
Hanjin to Divest Assets
The South Korean carrier Hanjin Shipping plans to generate USD 357 million from asset sales. South Korea’s largest container operator by capacity plans to sell items such as dry bulk activities while the debt-stricken shipping group negotiates with shipowners for a reduction in charter contracts. Without lower prices, a debt restructuring will not be an option, say the creditors. “Hanjin Shipping will continue aggressive restructuring efforts,” the company said in the statement. To start with, the company plans to sell terminal assets in South Korea. These are expected to raise KRW175 billion. It has several terminals worldwide, including Busan, Gwangyang, and Incheon. Hanjin also plans to securitise its office in Busan, a move that could net KRW102.2 billion.
Hanjin Shipping Opts for Debt Restructuring
South Korea’s Hanjin Shipping Co. Ltd will work with lenders to restructure debt after years of weak demand resulted in losses and cash erosion, reports Bloomberg. The board of Hanjin Shipping decided to file for receivership and give creditors authority to manage the company, bowing to calls from the government and its main creditor Korea Development Bank (KDB) which asked Cho to accept heavy restructuring of the company. "Board directors of Hanjin Shipping decided to give up their management control for debt restructuring," said a KDB spokesman. Having been faced with an outstanding debt of USD 406 million due in the first half of this year, the company is now aiming to improve the financial structure and “normalize” its management.
Hyundai Merchant Marine in Doldrums
Amid speculation that Hyundai Merchant Marine Co. (HMM) may go into court receivership, the financial authorities and creditors will try to make it a subsidiary of Korea Development Bank (KDB). South Korea’s finance minister Yoo Il-ho said that HMM,one of Korea’s vulnerable industries that needed downsizing, will face court receivership unless it can cut its charter payments to fellow owners. After much consideration, financial authorities and creditors concluded that they cannot drive HMM to receiving a court receivership, say sources in HMM’s creditors. Sooner or later, they will come up with measures to promote HMM’s management normalization, including creditor financial institutions’ debt-for-equity swap and additional supports.
