Doosan aims to raise $1.3 bn in rights offering

The heavy industrial company will invest $668.9 million in its eco-friendly energy businesses

Doosan's wind power turbines installed off the coast of Jeju Island, Korea
Doosan's wind power turbines installed off the coast of Jeju Island, Korea
Jun-ho Cha 2
Nov 28, 2021 (Gmt+09:00) chacha@hankyung.com
Machinery

Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction Co., South Korean conglomerate Doosan Group’s subsidiary, agreed to raise 1.5 trillion won ($1.3 billion) via a rights offering at its board meeting held on Nov. 26. 

The heavy industrial company plans to use 800 billion won of the 1.5 trillion won to strengthen its eco-friendly businesses, such as hydrogen turbines, offshore wind power and small module reactors (SMRs), a type of nuclear reactor, and use the remaining 700 billion won for existing debt redemption. 

The company will first issue new shares to its existing shareholders then open to public subscriptions. A total of six Korean securities firms including NH Investment & Securities Co., Korea Investment & Securities Co. and Mirae Asset Securities Co. will be bookrunners and acquire all forfeited shares, if any. 

The construction company will invest 300 billion won in hydrogen turbines and 200 billion won in offshore wind power, as well as boost investment in SMRs, fuel cells, hydrogen power and solar energy. It also plans to accelerate new businesses such as 3D printing and resource recirculation. 

The rights offering will secure funds for Doosan’s eco-friendly energy businesses as well as improve the company’s financial structure, which will lead to its sustainable growth, an official from Doosan Heavy Industries said.

Meanwhile, the company’s parent group is accelerating its financial restructuring as part of a self-rescue program. On Nov. 12, Doosan Group inked an agreement to sell a 54% stake in Doosan Engineering & Construction Co. (Doosan E&C) to a consortium of Korean financial investors for 138 billion won. Under the agreement, Doosan Heavy Industries is disposing of the majority of Doosan E&C’s stakes while holding the other 46% stake. The consortium consists of Seoul-based Q Capital Partners, SkyLake Equity Partners, Woori Private Equity, Eugene Asset Management Co. and Shinyoung Securities' private equity division.

In February of this year, Doosan Heavy Industries signed a deal to sell a 34.97% stake in construction equipment maker Doosan Infracore to Korean shipbuilder giant Hyundai Heavy Industries Holdings Co. for 850 billion won and completed the sale in August. 

Write to Jun-ho Cha at chacha@hankyung.com
Jihyun Kim edited this article.

Doosan sells E&C, closer to exiting self-rescue program

Doosan sells E&C, closer to exiting self-rescue program

South Korea's Doosan Group on Friday inked an agreement to sell a majority stake in Doosan Engineering & Construction Co. (Doosan E&C) to a consortium of domestic financial investors for 138 billion won ($116 million).The stake sale will likely bring the conglomerate's self-rescue prog

Zero-carbon, self-driving still in distant future for top Kospi stocks

Zero-carbon, self-driving still in distant future for top Kospi stocks

(Courtesy of Samsung Engineering) Shares in Samsung Engineering Co., a leading South Korean plant builder, have skyrocketed about 90% year to date, far outstripping the average rise of 28% of domestic construction companies during the same period.In particular, the bulk of the gains in Samsung

Korea’s Nuri: Mission unaccomplished, but one step closer to space

Korea’s Nuri: Mission unaccomplished, but one step closer to space

South Korea has launched its first domestically designed and developed space rocket Nuri, but failed to put a satellite into orbit, thwarting its bid to join a handful of countries with advanced aerospace technology capable of sending at least a 1.5-ton satellite into orbit.The Korean Satellite Laun

S.Korean heavy equipment makers ride global raw materials boom

S.Korean heavy equipment makers ride global raw materials boom

Hyundai CE's 120-ton excavator model, R1250. The surging demand for raw materials around the world are driving sharp sales rebounds of South Korea’s two leading equipment makers Hyundai Construction Equipment Co. (Hyundai CE) and Hyundai Doosan Infracore Co. this year. The two units under

Hydrogen: Next big thing for stock investors in Korea

Hydrogen: Next big thing for stock investors in Korea

Korean conglomerates bet big on hydrogen In 2009, battery makers were barely on the radar in South Korea when it comes to stock investment. Back then, the rechargeable battery industry was just burgeoning.Some smart investors, however, began to amass stocks like LG Chem Ltd., which in that year