Copyright 2000 AFX News Limited  

AFX - Asia

June 8, 2000 Thursday


SECTION: COMPANY NEWS

LENGTH: 181 words

HEADLINE: SEC allows National Steel receiver to enter contracts to preserve assets

DATELINE: MANILA

BODY:
     The Securities and Exchange Commission has granted the interim receiver of debt-laden National Steel Corp permission to negotiate and enter into contracts necessary to preserve the assets of the steel firm.

In its order, the SEC gave the interim receiver of National Steel authority to dispose some corporate assets to defray the necessary expenses of the company.

Both the National Steel management and the receiver, however, should seek the approval of the SEC prior to the disposal of any asset.

The order also directed creditors of National Steel to submit within 15 days their comment on the amended rehabilitation plan of the company.

Under the plan submitted by the receiver to the SEC last month, 9 bln pesos of the steel firm's 16.5 bln pesos in debts will be restructured while the balance will be converted into equity.

The plan also calls for a strategic investor which will infuse an additional capital of 600 mln usd to 1.0 bln into National Steel.