Foremost Group CEO Angela Chao Killed in Car Accident
Angela Chao, chair and CEO of the Foremost Group, has died in a car accident, the New York-headquartered dry bulk shipping company announced on Monday.Angela Chao was an experienced and well-respected shipping executive, having worked her way up through several leadership positions at the company founder by her father, Dr. James S.C. Chao, with her mother, the late Ruth Mulan Chu Chao, in 1964.Before joining Foremost Group in 1996, Angela Chao worked in the mergers and acquisitions department of Smith Barney…
Braemar Names Beckwith HR Director
Braemar, expert advisors in shipping investment, chartering, and risk management, today announced the appointment of John Beckwith as Group Director of Human Resources.The hire of Beckwith strengthens Braemar’s leadership team, enhances and enables Braemar’s ability to grow organically and via Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A), and it represents a further investment in the professional development of its shipbroking and corporate finance teams.Beckwith has been the HR/people subject-matter expert on multiple mergers, demergers, and acquisitions throughout his career, including an IPO process.
Hornblower Names Peakes EVP and CFO
Hornblower Group announced Monday that Adam C. Peakes has joined the company as executive vice president and chief financial officer. Peakes will report to Kevin Rabbitt, chief executive officer, Hornblower Group.As Hornblower Group’s CFO, Peakes will oversee the company’s global shared services functions of finance and accounting, human resources, information technology and marine operations.“I am excited to welcome Adam to the Hornblower family and work with him as a trusted partner,” said Kevin Rabbitt, chief executive officer, Hornblower Group.
Eagle Bulk Names Tsoutsoplides Chief Strategy Officer
U.S.-based dry bulk shipping company Eagle Bulk Shipping on Thursday announced ithas appointed Costa Tsoutsoplides to the newly created chief strategy officer position. In this role, Tsoutsoplides will have broad responsibilities in developing Eagle’s corporate strategy as well as leading capital markets initiatives and overseeing ESG and investor relations. Tsoutsoplides will also retain his existing responsibilities, including mergers and acquisitions and vessel sale and purchase.Eagle's CEO Gary Vogel said, “I am pleased to announce Costa’s well-deserved promotion.
Crowley Names Messina VP Mergers & Acquisitions
Crowley Maritime Corporation announced it has appointed Massimo Messina as vice president, mergers and acquisitions (M&A).Based in Jacksonville, Fla., Messina will lead Crowley’s corporate expansion goals by identifying and assessing potential M&A candidates and execute transactions that align with the global enterprise’s future growth projection and endeavors across all business units.“Massimo has the vision and experience needed to source and obtain target opportunities to integrate into our business model and help keep Crowley on the cutting edge as a leader of our industry…
Crowley’s Skoglund to Lead Mergers and Acquisitions Team
Crowley Maritime Corp. has appointed Trish Skoglund as corporate director of mergers and acquisitions, guiding strategic investments that create sustainable growth and accelerate the company’s competitive advantages.In her newly created role, Skoglund will contribute to all aspects of strategic acquisitions, and she will collaborate with Crowley’s business units to identify growth opportunities that best maximize the company’s diverse capabilities and offerings, the company said.
Interview: John Batten, CEO, Twin Disc
How have major events such as the U.S./China trade war, oil price fall and COVID-19 impacted Twin Disc’s commercial marine business to date, and what adjustments have you made in response?These are the three things that I’ve been highlighting in employee communications and with investors over the last few months. For us, COVID was just the third punch after the other two. China is typically our second largest market after the U.S., and we lost lots of orders to our competitors as the trade war started to affect us. It’s rebounding a little, but it definitely impacted our sales into China.
Cruise Industry Compliance Tips: Facial Recognition Technology
In the past few years, the commercial use of facial recognition technology has advanced at an explosive rate, expanding into numerous industries and trades. For instance, facial biometrics is increasingly relied on by airlines and airports across the globe; a similar trend is starting to take hold in the maritime industry, particularly the cruise sector.While this expansion is occurring, states and cities across the country—as well as the federal government—are attempting to enact strict laws regulating the use of facial recognition technology by commercial entities.
Global Demand for Marine Fuels to Fall by Up To 17%
Global demand for marine fuels is expected to fall by up to 17% due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on world trade, setting the stage for more consolidation among bunker suppliers, an industry executive told a conference on Wednesday.Banks scaled back on their commodities trade finance after the coronavirus crisis led to defaults by some trading houses and exposed a series of frauds, leaving small and medium-sized firms most exposed.Unni Einemo, director of the International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA), said firms were contending with low demand, low margins, ample supplies, i
Harvey Gulf Secures PSV Extensions, Fuel Contract
U.S. based offshore vessel owner Harvey Gulf International Marine announced Monday it has signed two 18-month contract extensions for two of its liquefied natural gas (LNG) powered platform supply vessels (PSV), Harvey Liberty and Harvey Freedom. The extensions will keep both vessels under charter well into 2022."Each vessel will produce EBDITA returns on a annual basis north of 50% to the company," Harvey CEO, Shane Guidry told Marine Link.Harvey also announced it signed a long term contract to supply diesel fuel to a super major for its new fuel dock in Port Fourchon…
Interview: Todd Thayse, Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding
Vice President and General Manager of Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding, Todd Thayse, has 34 years of experience in the maritime construction and repair industry, working with clients from all over the world as well as vendors and suppliers from the Great Lakes region and beyond. He has an extensive background in manufacturing production, material procurement, strategic planning, estimating, budgeting, labor negotiations, mergers and acquisitions as well as scheduling for both the commercial and governmental shipbuilding industries. He has overseen projects that have produced U.S.
Upstream Sector Leads O&A M&A in 2019
A latest research revealed that the upstream sector accounted for the bulk of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in the global oil and gas industry in 2019, generating some high-value transactions during the process.According to GlobalData's theme report, ‘M&A in Oil and Gas – 2020’, the acquisition of Anadarko Petroleum by Occidental Petroleum in April 2019 for a purchase consideration of US$57bn was the highlight of oil and gas M&A activity last year, says GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.Ravindra Puranik, Oil & Gas Analyst at GlobalData, said: “In 2019, the upstream sector, more specifically the US shale plays, witnessed the highest deal activity in the oil and gas industry.
Crowley Realigns Its Marine Services Group
US-based Crowley Maritime Corp. announced on Wednesday that it has realigned its marine services organization and introduced new leadership.In a move that aims to provide better support to customers, Crowley Marine Services, part of the company’s shipping arm, will now be comprised of three distinct, yet interrelated business segments: offshore services, ship assist and tanker escort and engineering services – those provided by Crowley and subsidiary Jensen Maritime Consultants.Jeff Andreini…
ZIM Back into Black
Israeli international cargo shipping company ZIM Integrated Shipping Services continued to record improvements and to expand its global network to its customers confronting challenging business environment.ZIM has reported a net profit of USD 5 million for the third quarter of 2019, after returning to black in the second quarter of the year. (Compared: Net loss of $6.6 million in Q3 2018).Eli Glickman, ZIM President & CEO, said: “In spite of the challenging market conditions, ZIM continued to record improved results in Q3, as it did throughout 2019. While the challenges in the market endure, the advantages gained by our global strategic…
Hyundai Seeks EU's Ok to Acquire Daewoo
South Korea’s leading shipbuilding conglomerate Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) Group has submitted an application to the European Union for approval for its takeover of the compatriot shipbuilder Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME).According a Yonhap report, HHI informed that the submission will be reviewed by anti-trust authorities at the European Commission, expecting the results of their call in 2020.Hyundai Heavy has been taking prerequisite steps since April to apply for the EU’s mergers and acquisitions approval.In March, Hyundai Heavy signed a formal deal, worth an estimated 2 trillion won (US$1.7 billion) to buy its smaller local rival from the state-run Korea Development Bank (KDB).
ZIM Back in the Black
Israeli container line ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Limited reported a total revenues of $834.3 million in Q2 2019, reflecting an increase of 3.9% compared to $803.2 million in Q2 2018.In Q2 2019, ZIM carried 731 thousand TEUs, the second highest ever carried volume (reflecting a decrease of 5.3% compared to 772 thousand TEUs in Q2 2018, ZIM’s all-times record), said a press note.The container shipping industry is dynamic and volatile and has been marked in recent years by instability, characterized by volatility in freight rates and bunker prices, as a result of ever-changing market environment and the extensive activity of mergers and acquisitions that also led to reorganization of the global alliances.The instability and volatility in the market…
Gazprom Lead Oil and Gas Growth Worldwide
Russian giant Gazprom saw the most production growth among world’s exploration and production (E&P) companies during the five-year span from 2014 through 2018.It’s followed by Chinese player PetroChina Company Limited and U.S. shale company EQT Corporation ranking second and third, respectively, said energy research firm Rystad Energy.Onshore resources – whether conventional or unconventional – are a major driver of growth, it said.“Gazprom, the clear leader in production growth, is the only company with a total growth of more than 1 million barrels of oil equivalent per day (boepd) over the last five years,” said Espen Erlingsen, Rystad’s head of upstream research.
García Joins the SENER
SENER has hired Luis García Jiménez as its Director of Corporate Development. This post is essential to the growth and development of the SENER Group, and reports directly to the CEO, Jorge Unda.From his new position, Luis García will be in charge of analyzing, organizing and coordinating medium- and long-term opportunities involving mergers, acquisitions and investments. He will also participate, together with the CEO and the directors of SENER's different divisions, in defining…
ZIM Cuts Q1 Net Loss
The Israel-headquartered container carrier Zim Integrated Shipping Services (ZIM) reported a first-quarter net loss of $17.5 million compared with a net loss of $26.1 million in the first quarter of 2018.The global container shipping company said in a stock exchange annoucement that its first-quarter revenues were $796.2 million, an increase of 6% over the $751.4 million reported for the first quarter of 2018.In Q1 2019, ZIM carried 668 thousand TEUs (reflecting a decrease of 4.3% compared to Q1 2018), it said.The container shipping industry is dynamic and volatile and has been marked in recent years by instability, characterized by volatility in freight rates and bunker prices…
Oil & Gas M&A Deal Value Up in 2018
Global oil and gas total deal value increased by US$ 79.7b during 2018 to reach US$426.8b, despite a decrease of 18% in deal volume, said EY Global oil and gas transaction review 2018.It said that while the first two quarters of 2018 saw greater deal appetite aided by rising oil prices, caution returned in the second half of the year due to a decline in the oil price to 2015 levels.Looking ahead, the 2019 mergers and acquisitions (M&A) environment will likely be shaped by lower commodity prices, uncertain political climate and energy transition strategies, the review said.Andy Brogan, EY Global Oil & Gas Transaction Advisory Services Leader…
Gulftainer Names Fred Castonguay New Group CEO
UAE-based privately-owned port operator Gulftainer has appointed Fred Castonguay its new group chief operating officer to strengthen its growing ports and logistics portfolio globally.Castonguay previously served as the vice president of Operations at Ports America Group and as president and COO for Ports America Outer Harbour in Oakland, California.Peter Richards, Group Chief Executive Officer at Gulftainer, said: “We are pleased to welcome Fred Castonguay on board as Group Chief Operating Officer of Gulftainer. His expertise and strengths in terminal operations and leadership will continue to reinforce our global reputation. A seasoned industry veteran with a keen focus on operational excellence…
Ultra Petroleum Appoints David Honeyfield as CFO
Ultra Petroleum informed that David Honeyfield has been appointed to serve as CFO of the gas producer with assets in Wyoming’s Green River Basin.A press release from the energy company engaged in domestic natural gas and oil exploration, development and production said that Honeyfield has over 25 years of experience in the energy and natural resources fields with a strong background in accounting and the corporate management of public oil and gas companies.Most recently, Honeyfield served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of PDC Energy, Inc. and Chief Financial Officer of Jonah Energy LLC. He has also served in various leadership roles including President and Chief Financial Officer of Intrepid Potash…
Apples and Oranges When it Comes to Vessel Finance
Companies, lenders, and their auditors worldwide need vessel appraisals that can be relied upon when put into legal documents. As the offshore energy support markets awaken, this is more important now, than ever.While a great deal of shipping finance is done at a 10,000' level, with bond deals and equity swaps, the value of the assets found on ground level are still very important. There are taxation issues, insured value, public reporting, and allocation of purchase price, where the value of individual vessels is important.