Support for Hankyu Ferry through Development of a Syndicated Loan to Replace Ferries

Hankyu Ferry Co., Ltd. (headquarters: Kita-Kyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture), was established in 1966. At the time, the company was the first long-haul ferry operator. At present, the company operates two regular ferry routes from Kita-Kyushu (Shinmoji) to Hanshin (Kobe, Izumiotsu). Coastal shipping is a core transport infrastructure that supports lifestyle and economic activities in Japan through domestic cargo transports. In recent years, it has been gaining more attention as a transport mode with minimal economic impact as it is superior both economically and efficiently.

Hankyu Ferry is planning to replace two existing ferries (Yamato and Tsukushi) with new ferries that in addition to being economical offer high environmental performance in response to the increase in demand in recent years, including the modal shift. The building and planned launches of the two new replacement ferries (Settsu and Yamato) are on schedule. The Settsu was put into commission on March 10, 2020, and the Yamato is scheduled to be put into commission on June 30, 2020. The two new ferries are expected to provide stable transport for cargo and passengers going forward.

DBJ put together a syndicated loan to address the attendant demand for capital. In addition to supporting the company's capital investment, this financing also maintained the core transport infrastructure between Kita-Kyushu and the Hanshin region and resulted in a reduced environmental impact for the society at large in Japan.

DBJ aims to actively provide support to its customers that contribute to regional growth.