The South Korean shipbuilding group Hanwha Corporation, through its subsidiary HAA Pty Ltd, increased from 9.9% to 19.9% shareholding in the shipbuilding Australian Austal Limited becoming the reference shareholder of the company having exceeded 19.28% of the share capital owned on 30 June by the private company of Tattarang Ventures investments. Last year, Hanwha had submitted an offer for the acquisition of the entire share capital Austal shares, an offer that had not been successful also because it is not supported by the company's management and last April, with an over-the-counter operation, The South Korean group had proceeded to acquire shares in the Austal up to 9.9% of the total ( of 2 April and 27 September 2024 and 18 March 2025).

Austal announced today that the Australian Treasury Minister Jim Chalmers approved the increase in the consistency of the Hanwha, which is subject to strict conditions regarding access to and storage of Sensitive information from Hanwha and members that Hanwha could appoint to the board of directors of Austal, if Austal accepts this appointment. Announcing the increase of Austal specified that any future transaction Hanwha that results in exceeding the threshold of 19.9% of the share capital would require authorization in Australia both the Foreign Investment Review Board and the Treasury Department as well as that of the US Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (USDCSA). Austal, in fact, it also operates shipyards in Mobile, Alabama, and San Diego, in California, and is one of the leading suppliers in the US Navy.