Hyundai Motor fires back at Hyunai Group
By Kim Tae-gyu
Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group, the country’s foremost automaker, is bringing a counter action against Hyundai Group, the shipping-focused mid-tier chaebol, with regard to the acquisition of Hyundai Engineering & Construction (HE&C).
The Seoul-based group said Tuesday that it has filed a lawsuit against major subsidiaries of Hyundai Group such as Hyundai Merchant Marine, alleging that the latter defamed the former through false accusations.
Hyundai Group sued Hyundai Automotive, Monday, for 50 billion won in compensation, claiming that the latter had spread groundless rumors over its financial capacity.
Hyundai Group became the preferred bidder for a controlling stake in HE&C last month by writing in a bid of 5.5 trillion won ($4.8 billion) and signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with creditors earlier this week.
Yet, the other bidder Hyundai Automotive took issue with Hyundai Group’s funding, particularly 1.2 trillion won in an account with France’s Natixis, whose sources Hyundai Group refuse to specify.
``We asked for the financial regulators to examine the sources of the 1.2 trillion won account. Plus, we decided to counter Hyundai Group’s false accusation against us,’’ a Hyundai Automotive spokesman said.
``We make it clear once again that we plan to bring the institutions involved in the sales of HE&C to court if they do not get back on track.’’
Hyundai Automotive, which comprises affiliates Hyundai Motor and Kia Motors, was closely defeated by Hyundai Group with a bid of 5.1 trillion won in the competition for HE&C, the country’s largest building contractor.
As Hyundai Group has failed to disclose details on the 1.2 trillion won account, the world’s fifth-largest automaker even claimed that creditors should deprive Hyundai Group of the preferred bidder’s status.
현대건설 인수전 진흙탕 싸움으로 번져
현대그룹이 지난 월요일 현대건설 인수와 관련 현대자동차그룹에 500억원 상당의 명예훼손 소송을 제기하자 현대차그룹은 현대그룹 주력 계열사인 현대상선 및 현대증권 등을 대상으로 무고죄, 명예훼손죄로 고소했다.
대한민국 최고 건설사인 현대건설 인수전이 법정 싸움으로 비화될 위기에 처해 있는 것이다.
현대차 그룹은 “MOU 체결 과정에서 외환은행의 위법, 부당한 주관기관업무 수행및 현대그룹의 차입금 1조2,000억원의 출처 등에 대한 금융위원회 및 금융감독원에 대한 조사도 함께 요구”했다고 밝혔다.
현대건설의 우선협상대상자인 현대그룹은 현대건설을 인수하기 위해 5조5100억원을 제시했는데 이 중 1조2,000억원은 프랑스 나티시스 은행 잔고 증명을 통해 펀딩 계획을 세웠다. 하지만 현대그룹이 이 돈의 출처에 대해 신용대출금이라고만 밝힐 뿐 자세한 내용을 소명하지 않자 현대차그룹이 예비협상대상자로서 이를 문제 삼아 왔다.