KDB wants a no-strike clause in Kumho/Doublestar deal
Korea Development Bank (KDB), the main creditor of Kumho Tire, has plans to put a no-strike clause in Doublestar’s current bid to buy Kumho.
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Doublestar back in pole-position for Kumho purchase
Having previously been ruled out of the running to buy Kumho Tire, Qingdao, China-based manufacturer Doublestar Tire is once again in pole-position to buy the South Korean tyremaker. “Doublestar Tire is the best option in view of a fast restoration of Kumho Tire and its corporation in China and the minimization of our losses”, Kumho’s creditors said in a widely reported statement.
Kumho Tire – can a Doublestar acquisition still take place?
The Korea Development Bank (KDB) has denied finalising the sale of a 42.01 per cent share in Kumho Tire to Qingdao Doublestar Tire, but that’s exactly what we’d expect it to do until all the ‘i’s are dotted and ‘t’s crossed. Negotiations between Kumho Tire’s creditors and Doublestar recently recommenced, however The Korea Herald has quoted a KDB official as stating “nothing has been finalised.”
Kumho Tire’s net losses deepen
Kumho Tire Co., has reported net losses of 88.56 billion won (US$81 million) for 2017, up significantly from 37.9 billion won a year earlier, according to the Yonhap news agency’s translation of a regulatory filing on the matter.
Orion completes Korea Carbon Black plant
Orion Engineered Carbons has completed construction of a new carbon black production line at its plant in Yeosu, South Korea, to produce specialty products. The line started production on 23 November and has begun commercial sales.
Union asks South Korea to address Kumho Tire’s employee relations in USA
Leo W. Gerard, president of US-based trade union the United Steelworkers (USW), has sent a letter to South Korea’s President in which he raises concerns about Kumho Tire’s dealings with its workforce in the United States. The USW comments that this correspondence with Moon Jae-in addresses Kumho’s “union-busting actions towards its workers” and asks the South Korean government to intervene and “ensure that the workers are free to exercise their democratic rights.”
Apollo Tyres ‘has no intention’ of entering Kumho acquisition race
Apollo Tyres has denied reports published in India’s Economic Times suggesting that it is about to enter the race to acquire Kumho Tire. An Apollo spokesperson told Tyres & Accessories: “Apollo Tyres strongly denies the story headlined ‘Apollo Back in Kumho Race as Geopolitics Sours China Deal’ that appeared in the print edition of The Economic Times on 2 October, 2017.
Reports: Doublestar/Kumho acquisition close to collapse
Doublestar’s proposed acquisition of Kumho is reportedly close to collapse after the Qingdao-Chinese tyre manufacturer asked for a double-digit discount. According to reports in the Nikkei, Kumho’s major shareholders are planning to write to Doublestar asking the firm to agree to the end of bid talks between the two parties.
New Kumho Tire asking price a chance for Park Sam-koo
Kumho Asiana chairman Park Sam-koo may soon be back in the running to acquire a 42.01 per cent stake in Kumho Tire.
Doublestar wants Kumho Tire stake for KRW 800 billion
On Friday, we reported that Chinese tyre maker Qingdao Doublestar Tire was angling for a ten per cent discount on the 42.01 per cent stake in Kumho Tire it wishes to acquire. Not so, wrote The Korea Times over the weekend – according to its sources, Doublestar wants creditors to cut the price to KRW 800 billion (£544.6 million), a discount of 16.2 per cent on the original bid price.
Court rules Hankook Tire partially responsible for worker’s cancer death
A South Korean court has ordered Hankook Tire to compensate the family of a former worker who died of lung cancer in 2015. According to an article published by The Korea Herald last Friday, the Seoul Central District Court ruled that the tyre maker was “partially responsible for the death of a factory worker surnamed Ahn who died of lung cancer caused by toxic chemicals.”
Kumho Tire proposal ‘tentatively’ accepted
Although it’s probably too early for champagne corks to pop, progress has been made in the Kumho Tire shareholding negotiations. Yonhap News Agency writes that the tyre maker’s creditors have “tentatively agreed to accept original proposals” made by Kumho Asiana, adding that this may pave the way for creditors to complete the sale of the 42.01 per cent shareholding to Qingdao Doublestar Tire.
Abu Dhabi firm invests in Nexen Tire, signs MoU
Abu Dhabi-based investor Mubadala Investment Company has Nexen Tire on its radar, and this has led to the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the two firms. According to Nexen Tire, the agreement its chief executive officer Travis (Ho-chan) Kang formalised yesterday with Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, Mubadala’s managing director and group chief executive officer, sets out ways and means for both parties to “explore strategic partnership opportunities.” Mubadala has directly invested into Nexen as part of the agreement, however so far the tyre maker hasn’t disclosed the extent of this investment.
Creditors, Doublestar Tire receive final offer for use of Kumho brand name
Negotiations over the use of the Kumho brand name are drawing to a conclusion, with Park Sam-Koo and the board of Kumho Industrial Co. announcing their final offer following a meeting yesterday. This offer centres on the payment of 0.5 per cent of Kumho Tire’s sales in brand royalties for 12.5 years and a clause ensuring that Doublestar uses the Kumho name for the entire period.
Kumho Tire: Will South Korea’s new President stop sale to Doublestar?
Moon Jae-in is South Korea’s new President, and this may be bad news for Qingdao Doublestar and its efforts to acquire a controlling share in Kumho Tire. In an article published earlier today, The Korea Times explored the possibility that Moon may prevent the Chinese tyre maker from acquiring Doublestar. According to the financial daily, analysts consider this a very real threat to the deal.
