The Korean shipowner hopes to raise KRW 11.2bn ($10.6m) fromthe sale of the three-year notes, it said in an exchange filing.

They carry a coupon rate of 8.63% and will mature in April2017.  

In October last year HMM raised KRW 22.4bn from the sale ofconvertible notes carrying a much lower coupon rate of 3.49%.

State-controlled Korea Development Bank (KDB) bought the entireissue. 

The sales are part of a government-backed scheme to helprefinance debt.

HMM has been selling off assets to reduce debt and return tofinancial health.

The company carded a KRW 715.3bn loss last year, animprovement of 27% over the previous year.