Politics, succession planning and the future direction of newbuilding prices are all in play as South Korea seeks to merge the world’s two largest shipbuilders into one super yard group with an orderbook worth more than $35bn.
Korea Development Bank has confirmed plans to sell its majority holding in DSME to Hyundai Heavy Industries in a near $2bn transaction.
Shipowning clients of HHI tell TradeWinds they are positive about the combination, despite the possibility of higher prices down the line.
