Korean Court Considers Selling Hanjin’s Asia-US Business
The Seoul Central District Court overseeing the receivership filing of Hanjin Shipping Co. is considering a disposal of the sales and marketing network of the container line’s Asia-U.S. operations as part of efforts to raise funds for the indebted company.
The plan was set in motion after a detailed evaluation of the company under bankruptcy protection indicated its assets could be more valuable if sold in parts, a court spokesman said by phone Oct. 11.
A sale would include employees and customers of Hanjin subsidiaries involved in handling Asia-U.S. cargo as well as some vessels, he said. The court intends to make a decision as soon as possible, he said.
The court indicated in September that it would consider selling the entire container line, which sought bankruptcy protection in August. Hanjin, South Korea’s biggest container line, fell victim to a global slump in trade that has depressed freight rates and led to losses, consolidation and job cuts among other shipping companies.
The Seoul-based Hanjin sought protection after creditors halted all financial support, causing its ships to be stranded at sea and disrupting the global supply chain ahead of the year-end holiday season.
The Seoul court, which established a committee to evaluate Hanjin, hasn’t determined what to do with Hanjin’s other operations, including those moving goods between Asia and Europe, the spokesman said. Hanjin is required to submit its own proposal for revival by Dec. 23.
On Oct. 10, the judge met with the evaluating officials, who also are helping the court to review a possible sale of Hanjin’s operations, the spokesman said. The court has yet to decide on the number of vessels or how many workers could be affected by a sale of the U.S.-Asia operations, he said. Hanjin Shipping had 1,428 employees as of June 30, according to its half-year financial report.
Its market share also has shrunk as customers defected, dropping to 1.3% as of Oct. 11 and making Hanjin the 17th biggest container line, according to shipping data provider Alphaliner. Before the company’s filing, it was in seventh place and controlled 2.9% of the market.
