Supply Chain Research

COSCO Shipping Holdings has suspended trading in its Shanghai-listed shares ahead of a potential private placement of new shares. No details on value or buyers has yet been released, but it is likely to be in support of its $6.3 billion purchase of Orient Overseas. The deal will raise the company gearing (net debt to capital) to 60% from 44% at the end of the second quarter. Returning it to the container-line average of 53% would require a $1.4 billion capital raise, or 15% of the current market capitalization. The deal follows recent offerings from Hapag-Lloyd and Hyundai Merchant Marin...