Corporate debt and the Indonesian forestry sector

The Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) holds US$ 4.1 billion in loans related to forest and estate crop activities, of which US$ 2.7 billion are nonperforming. Ten large conglomerates account for over 70% of the bad forest and estate crop debt. These groups are also responsible for some US$...

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Main Authors: Barr, C., Brown, D., Casson, A., Kaimowitz, D.
Format: Book Chapter
Language:Inglés
Published: Resources for the Future, Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) and Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS) 2002
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/18621
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author Barr, C.
Brown, D.
Casson, A.
Kaimowitz, D.
author_browse Barr, C.
Brown, D.
Casson, A.
Kaimowitz, D.
author_facet Barr, C.
Brown, D.
Casson, A.
Kaimowitz, D.
author_sort Barr, C.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description The Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) holds US$ 4.1 billion in loans related to forest and estate crop activities, of which US$ 2.7 billion are nonperforming. Ten large conglomerates account for over 70% of the bad forest and estate crop debt. These groups are also responsible for some US$ 2.4 billion in domestic nonperforming loans in other sectors and US$ 15 billion in offshore debt. The current high level of non-performing loans stems, in large part, from the failure by banks to exercise due diligence (i.e., seriously assess the potential for loan default) when Indonesia’s forest-linked conglomerates sought to borrow funds prior to the crisis. Direct government subsidies for forest and estate crop activities also encouraged corporate risk taking. Strong evidence suggests that debt write-offs and loan restructuring may provide Indonesia’s forest-related industries with a substantial capital subsidy. This study projects that IBRA will eventually write-off US$ 1.3 – 1.9 billion of debts associated with timber, wood processing, pulp and paper, and oil palm investments. Debt write-off on this scale, together with IBRA’s current lack of supervision over the forest-related companies that owe it large sums of money, will serve as an impetus for debtor firms to continue to engage in practices involving an inordinate degree of financial risk.
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publishDate 2002
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publisher Resources for the Future, Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) and Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS)
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spelling CGSpace186212025-01-24T14:12:51Z Corporate debt and the Indonesian forestry sector Barr, C. Brown, D. Casson, A. Kaimowitz, D. economic crises forest products industry plantation crops companies debt risk forests The Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) holds US$ 4.1 billion in loans related to forest and estate crop activities, of which US$ 2.7 billion are nonperforming. Ten large conglomerates account for over 70% of the bad forest and estate crop debt. These groups are also responsible for some US$ 2.4 billion in domestic nonperforming loans in other sectors and US$ 15 billion in offshore debt. The current high level of non-performing loans stems, in large part, from the failure by banks to exercise due diligence (i.e., seriously assess the potential for loan default) when Indonesia’s forest-linked conglomerates sought to borrow funds prior to the crisis. Direct government subsidies for forest and estate crop activities also encouraged corporate risk taking. Strong evidence suggests that debt write-offs and loan restructuring may provide Indonesia’s forest-related industries with a substantial capital subsidy. This study projects that IBRA will eventually write-off US$ 1.3 – 1.9 billion of debts associated with timber, wood processing, pulp and paper, and oil palm investments. Debt write-off on this scale, together with IBRA’s current lack of supervision over the forest-related companies that owe it large sums of money, will serve as an impetus for debtor firms to continue to engage in practices involving an inordinate degree of financial risk. 2002 2012-06-04T09:08:37Z 2012-06-04T09:08:37Z Book Chapter https://hdl.handle.net/10568/18621 en Resources for the Future, Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) and Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS) Barr, C., Brown, D., Casson, A., Kaimowitz, D. 2002. Corporate debt and the Indonesian forestry sector . In: Colfer, C.J.P., Resosudarmo, I.A.P. (eds.). Which way forward?: people, forests, and policymaking in Indonesia. :277-292. Washington, DC, Resources for the Future, Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) and Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS).
spellingShingle economic crises
forest products industry
plantation crops
companies
debt
risk
forests
Barr, C.
Brown, D.
Casson, A.
Kaimowitz, D.
Corporate debt and the Indonesian forestry sector
title Corporate debt and the Indonesian forestry sector
title_full Corporate debt and the Indonesian forestry sector
title_fullStr Corporate debt and the Indonesian forestry sector
title_full_unstemmed Corporate debt and the Indonesian forestry sector
title_short Corporate debt and the Indonesian forestry sector
title_sort corporate debt and the indonesian forestry sector
topic economic crises
forest products industry
plantation crops
companies
debt
risk
forests
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/18621
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