SEOUL - Homeplus Co., a major discount store chain in South Korea, has responded to concerns over its financial stability following a recent debt rollover agreement with Meritz Securities Co. The company was due to repay a debt of 300 billion won (US$220 million) by the end of December but negotiated a six-month extension, which was granted by the brokerage. This development raised questions about Homeplus's ability to settle another loan amounting to 500 billion won due in October, owed to various local financial institutions.
According to Yonhap News Agency, "We have (tentatively) agreed with Meritz and the (unidentified) financial institutions on the rollover of the loans valued at a combined 800 billion won," a Homeplus spokesperson stated, though further details were not provided. The chain, acquired by private equity firm MBK Partners from British retailer Tesco Plc in 2015 for 7.2 trillion won, has reportedly repaid nearly 4 trillion won of the 4.3 trillion-won loan included in the acquisition deal.
As of February, Homeplus operates 131 stores nationwide, a decrease from over 140 in 2015. The company reported an operating loss of 260.2 billion won for the fiscal year ending in February 2022, an improvement from the previous year's loss of 133.5 billion won. However, ongoing operational challenges led Korea Investors Service to downgrade Homeplus's credit rating last February, citing continued losses and competitive disadvantages. The company is awaiting a new credit evaluation by a local rating firm this week.