Sunday, June 22, 2025
Home Most Popular Delay in negotiations cast doubt on HMM sale

Delay in negotiations cast doubt on HMM sale

Aspersions have been cast on the sale of HMM to the Harim Group-JKL Partners consortium after negotiations with the South Korean flagship carrier’s state-controlled shareholders stalled.

Container News understands that agreement on the sale terms was supposed to have been reached on 23 January, but this has been postponed to 6 February. On 18 December 2023, Harim-JKL was chosen as the preferred bidder for HMM, which came under the control of Korea Development Bank and Korea Ocean Business Corporation after swapping debt for equity in 2016.

KDB began moving to wean HMM off its care after the liner industry saw record earnings during the Covid-19-fuelled boom.

South Korean media reports imply that Harim Group, a poultry processor that acquired dry bulk outfit Pan Ocean in 2015, wants a three-year moratorium on the conversion of HMM bonds into additional shares.

Harim also reportedly wants restrictions on the distribution of dividends to HMM shareholders and the government’s right to appoint independent directors.

The reports suggest that if an agreement is not reached by 6 February, the deal with Harim could fall through.

Harim-JKL bid US$4.9 billion for a 57.9% stake in HMM, beating its sole rival suitor, Dongwon LOEX.

The bids and the result were controversial as neither Harim-JKL nor Dongwon LOEX are richer than HMM, meaning they need substantial fund-raising to take over the company.

HMM’s labour unions have renewed their opposition saying the ongoing rebound in freight rates amid the Red Sea crisis will bring fresh funds to the company, which might evaporate if it is absorbed into Harim. The unions also suggest that HMM’s plans to grow its bulk carrier fleet may be scuttled as Pan Ocean’s fleet is larger.

They also said that Hapag-Lloyd’s break from THE Alliance, of which HMM, Ocean Network Express and Yang Ming Marine Transport are members, adds uncertainty to HMM’s competitiveness.


Martina Li
Asia Correspondent





Latest Posts

We Asked AI: Container Ships in Ancient Worlds

Container Ships in Ancient Worlds Imagine a colossal container ship gliding through the Nile as pyramids rise in the distance, or docking at a bustling...

Scenario planning for Mediterranean ports growth amid ongoing tensions

The sustained growth of Mediterranean port traffic, driven by increased Asia-Europe trade and the Red Sea crisis, presents a dynamic landscape for global shipping. Assuming...

Thessaloniki port Revival: Balkan gateway reawakens

 For decades, Thessaloniki was a port with strategic promise but structural limitations, ideally located at the crossroads of Europe and the Balkans, yet constrained...

Vigor Marine Group’s consolidation signals US push to counter China’s shipbuilding dominance

In a bold move to strengthen America’s maritime capabilities, five leading US ship repair and marine service providers have united under a single banner. This...

AI reshape shipping operations

The integration of artificial intelligence into shipping operations, is poised to transform competition in the maritime industry by enhancing efficiency, safety, and sustainability while...
error: Content is protected !!