Conglomerates increase cashable assets amid economic slump

South Korea’s top conglomerates have expanded their holdings of cashable assets over the past five years, data showed Sunday, due mainly to their reluctance to increase investment amid a prolonged economic slump.

The combined amount of cashable assets held by 76 listed companies owned by the country’s top 10 conglomerates came to 148.52 trillion won ($144.61 billion) as of end-March, up 56.1 percent from the 95.1 trillion won five years earlier, the data compiled by conglomerate researcher CEO Score showed.

The latest amount took up 13.6 percent of their total assets, up from 11.9 percent posted in 2009.

Cashable assets include cash, cash equivalents and other financial products with a maturity of less than one year. A rise in cashable assets indicates an improvement in corporate liquidity.

Samsung Group held the largest amount of cashable assets at 66 trillion won, up 139.5 percent from the 27.5 trillion won posted in 2009. Samsung Electronics Co., the key affiliate, accounted for 59.4 trillion won, or 90 percent. (Yonhap)