HMM may bid for Hyundai LNG Shipping Potential acquisition likely to help shipping company diversify portfolio and find buyer
Translated by Ryu Ho-joung 공개 2021-08-19 08:04:06
이 기사는 2021년 08월 19일 08:02 thebell 에 표출된 기사입니다.
HMM may bid for Hyundai LNG Shipping, formerly HMM’s liquid natural gas operations, seven years after the shipping company reluctantly offloaded the business to private equity investors.IMM Private Equity and IMM Investment recently decided to exit their investment in Hyundai LNG Shipping and have been sounding out potential buyers, according to industry sources. They bought the business from HMM, formerly known as Hyundai Merchant Marine, in 2014 for 1.03 trillion won ($881.4 million).
As Hyundai LNG Shipping has been put up for sale, HMM is being mentioned as the most likely potential buyer. The sale of its LNG unit was a reluctant decision by HMM as part of a restructuring plan announced in 2013 by the then cash-strapped Hyundai Group.
HMM’s strong cash position also reinforces the possibility of the company bidding for Hyundai LNG Shipping. At the end of June, HMM had cash and cash equivalents of 2.16 trillion won, up by nearly 1 trillion won compared to three months ago.
“Nothing has been finalized,” said an official at HMM. But many believe the company has studied a possible bid, though there is no guarantee an offer will materialize.
HMM’s potential acquisition of Hyundai LNG Shipping will help the company diversify its portfolio beyond container shipping. Its container business accounts for about 93% of total revenues, increasing from 79% in 2015.
Hyundai LNG Shipping could be an attractive target for acquisition as HMM looks to reduce its reliance on container shipping and expand its portfolio again to bulk cargo. HMM intends to expand the operation of bulk cargo vessels, from 63 at the end of June to about 100.
Hyundai LNG Shipping has generated stable earnings and cash flow based on long-term contracts with the country’s gas corporations. Its annual revenue was around 200 billion won in recent years.
HMM is considered a candidate for sale as the company is currently controlled by creditors led by Korea Development Bank (KDB). Business diversification achieved by a potential takeover of Hyundai LNG Shipping may help increase HMM’s attractiveness for potential buyers.
However, Hyundai LNG Shipping’s price tag is as high as 2 trillion won, twice the price HMM was paid seven years ago.
In addition, any attempt to make an acquisition by HMM requires consent of creditors including KDB and Korea Ocean Business Corporation.
“Even if HMM is interested in acquiring Hyundai LNG Shipping, it would not be easy to receive consent from creditors,” said an official at one shipping company. (Reporting by Su-jin Yoo)
< 저작권자 ⓒ 자본시장 미디어 'thebell', 무단 전재, 재배포 및 AI학습 이용 금지 >
관련기사
best clicks
최신뉴스 in 전체기사
-
- [보험사 해외사업 점검]김동원 한화생명 사장, 인니 확장 승부수…경영 역량 '시험대'
- [캐피탈사 글로벌 모니터]DGB캐피탈, 라오스 소액금융 법인 설립 시너지 강화
- 전북은행, 연체율에 달린 '중금리 대출' 지속가능성
- [Company Watch]'재매각' 엑스플러스, 증자 추진 '사업기반 리셋'
- 덕산일렉테라, 미국 캐파 2배 증설
- [thebell note]‘이번엔 다르다’는 베트남
- 'ESG 집중' 대우건설, 기후변화 대응 리더 청사진
- 소프트아이텍, 국가암데이터센터 운영관리 사업 수주
- 대동, '2024 오늘과 내일의 농업' 이벤트 진행
- [ETF 위클리]중국 회복 기대감, 차이나항셍테크 ETF '불기둥'