This article was displayed on the ChosunBiz MoneyMove MM site at 6:13 p.m. on Apr. 21, 2026.
On the 21st, as the final bids for the sale of Homeplus Co. Express closed, it was confirmed that Harim Group submitted a letter of commitment (LOC). It is widely expected to be selected as the preferred negotiating party.
According to the investment banking (IB) and retail industries, Harim Group participated in the final bids for the sale of Homeplus Co. Express, which closed at 3 p.m. that day. In addition to Harim Group, one other party participated, creating effective competition.
With cash-rich Harim Group entering the race, assessments say the likelihood of completing the sale of Homeplus Co. Express has increased. Harim Group is a large company ranked around 30th in the chaebol hierarchy with total assets approaching 17 trillion won. Its affiliate NS Home Shopping previously operated the SSM 'NS Mart' and sold it to E-MART in 2012.
Earlier, in the preliminary bids for the sale of Homeplus Co. Express conducted by Samil Accounting on the 31st of last month, two strategic investors (SIs) submitted letters of intent (LOIs). One of them is MGC Global (formerly Anhouse), which operates the low-cost coffee brand "MEGA MGC COFFEE," and the other is a distribution company based in the Gyeongnam region. It is not confirmed whether these companies participated in the final bids.
Samil Accounting is reporting the results of the final bids to the Seoul Bankruptcy Court this afternoon. After discussions with the court, it plans to finalize the confirmation of qualified bidders (shortlist) and the selection of the preferred negotiating party, and to finalize the remaining detailed sale schedule.