AP Moeller Shares Fly High In '99

Danish shipping and oil group A.P. Moeller shares surged 95 percent in 1999, bolstered by a 150 percent rise in crude oil prices and improved freight rates, and analysts predict solid profits in 2000 along with more takeovers. Earnings per share (EPS) for D/S 1912 is expected to climb to 2,762 crowns this year and rise a further 24 percent to 3,424 crowns next year, with D/S Svendborg seen reaching 3,880 crowns in the current fiscal year and 4,917 crowns in 2000. Moeller's Maersk container liner bought two of its competitors in 1999, South African Safmarine Container Lines in February and U.S. CSX Corp's Sea-Land in July, cementing its position as the world's leading container liner. "One of the biggest tasks in 2000 will be the integration of Sea-Land, but I still expect new takeovers to come," Rammer said.