현대그룹, 현대증권 등 매각…금융업 철수

Published : Dec 22, 2013 - 16:46 Updated : Dec 22, 2013 - 17:05

현대그룹이 주축 계열사인 현대증권을 비롯해 금융계열사 3개사를 매각한다.

현대그룹은 계열사와 자산 처분을 통해 총 3조3천억원 이상의 자금을 확보할 계획이다.

현대그룹은 이 같은 선제적 자구안으로 최근 시장에서 제기된 현대그룹의 유동성 문제를 해소할 방침이라고 22일 밝혔다.

현대그룹은 우선 현대증권, 현대자산운용, 현대저축은행 등 금융계열사를 모두 매각, 금융업에서 철수하기로 했다.

금융계열사 매각으로 7천억원에서 1조원 이상의 자금을 조달할 예정이다.

금융계열사 매각 방식은 SPC(특수목적회사) 설립을 통해 진행할 예정이다. SPC를 세워 금융계열사 등의 자산을 이전시키고 세부적인 매각방안과 절차는 주채권은행인 산업은행을 비롯한 금융권과 협의해 진행할 예정이라고 현대그룹은 설명했다.

또 현대상선이 보유한 항만터미널사업 일부 지분을 매각하고 벌크 전용선 부문의 사업구조를 조정해 약 1조5천억원을 조달할 방침이다.

이밖에 서울 장충동 반얀트리호텔도 매각하기로 했다. 반얀트리호텔 매각으로 3천400억원 이상을 조달한다는 계획이다.

<관련 영문 기사>

Hyundai Group decides to sell financial units to raise cash

Hyundai Group said it would secure around 3.3 trillion won ($3.1 billion) in emergency funds by selling its three financial units, including Hyundai Securities Co. This is part of its efforts to address the recent liquidity concerns raised by the market.

“Though we have enough cash for the first half of next year, we have taken strong measures to ease the concerns of the market,” a Hyundai spokesman said. “We have repeatedly pondered the sale of financial organizations, which are among Hyundai Group’s mainstays.”

By selling off Hyundai Securities Co., Hyundai Asset Management and Hyundai Savings Bank Co., the group is expected to secure around 700 billion won to 1 trillion won.

On top of this, Hyundai Group will secure 1.5 trillion won by selling shares for Hyundai Merchant Marine Co.’s port terminal projects, and 480 billion won through sales of its properties, securities, and vessels.

The conglomerate’s effort to expand capital is expected to continue. It plans to obtain 320 billion won, attracting foreign capital through the sale of shares in Hyundai Merchant Marine Co., Hyundai Elevator’s paid-in capital increase and Hyundai Logistics Co.’s initial public offering. It will also raise 340 billion won by selling out the luxury Banyan Tree Hotel in central Seoul.

Hyundai Group said the selling off would proceed by setting up a Special Purpose Company which will transfer assets of financial organizations and discuss procedures with its main creditor bank Korea Development Bank and other financial companies.

Under the plan, the group is expected to pay off its debt of around 1.3 trillion won, which will lower the debt ratio of the three main companies -- Hyundai Merchant Marine Co., Hyundai Elevator and Hyundai Logiem Co. -- from 493 percent in the third quarter to 200 percent, and to additionally secure over 2 trillion won of liquidity.

By selling off financial businesses, Hyundai Group is expected to shift its focus to four main segments including Hyundai Merchant Marine Co.’s shipping, Hyundai Logiem Co.’s distribution, Hyundai Elevator’s industrial machine and Hyundai Asan Corp.’s inter-Korean business projects.

The conglomerate is led by chairwoman Hyun Jeong-eun, the wife of the late group chairman Chung Mong-hun, one of the sons of Hyundai founder Chung Ju-yung. The founder’s eldest son Chung Mong-koo leads Hyundai Automotive Group.

By Shin Ji-hye
(shinjh@heraldcorp.com)