V.Group Acquires Graig Ship Management
Marine and offshore vessel management and support services provider V.Group said it has acquired Graig Ship Management Ltd, part of Graig Shipping PLC, which has developed a reputation for new build supervision and ship management of dry bulk vessels. This reputation, which has its roots as part of Graig Shipping PLC’s 100 year history and is supported by a global maritime workforce, has grown steadily over the past 25 years. Graig Ship Management will continue to operate independently within the V.Group portfolio.
V.Group Appoints Ian El-Mokadem as CEO
UK-based ship management company V.Group announced the appointment of Ian El-Mokadem as Chief Executive Officer and Martin Gaard Christiansen as Chief Commercial Officer. Both will assume their positions in the autumn. Ian joins from Exova, the global provider of technically demanding testing, calibration and related advisory services, where he served as Chief Executive for the last six years. Ian was responsible for professionalising and growing the business, which operates in 33 countries, has a network of 4,200 experts across 138 laboratories, and is trusted by customers in industries such as aerospace, defence, and oil and gas to test and advise on safety, quality and performance of their products.
China's CMG in Talks for Advent's Brazil Port Stake
China Merchants Group Ltd is in advanced talks to buy Advent International Corp's 50 percent stake in TCP Terminal de Contêineres de Paranaguá SA, Brazil's second-busiest container port, O Estado de S. Paulo newspaper said on Thursday. According to Estado, which cited unnamed sources familiar with the transaction, talks with the Chinese state-run company known as CMG gained momentum after Advent's negotiations with Dubai-based DP World Ltd hit a snag. Reuters reported in August that Advent had hired Morgan Stanley & Co and Grupo BTG Pactual SA to sell the TCP stake. Sources said at the time that Advent wanted to fetch a price for the stake that could set a minimum value of 3.5 billion reais ($1.1 billion) for TCP.
Advent Hires Banks to Sell Control of Brazil Port
Buyout firm Advent International Corp has hired Morgan Stanley & Co and Grupo BTG Pactual SA to advise on the sale of a controlling stake in TCP Terminal de Contêineres de Paranaguá SA, Brazil's second-busiest container port, according to two people with direct knowledge of the plans. Earlier this year, Boston-based Advent had announced plans to sell the 50 percent stake it has in TCP, which can handle about 1.5 million tonnes of cargo containers annually. BTG Pactual joined Morgan Stanley as advisor to Advent at the start of July, the people said. The sources, who spoke with Reuters in recent days, asked for anonymity because the plan remained confidential.
First Port in S. America Panamax Approved
Terminal de Contêineres de Paranaguá (TCP) first port in the region approved to allow unrestricted access of vessels of new Panama Canal’s maximum dimensions. Only weeks after having received permission to lift all restrictions to navigate at night, TCP - 3rd biggest Brazilian container port located in Paranagua has become the first port in the region to receive approval to allow unrestricted access of vessels featuring the new Panama Canal’s maximum dimensions of 368 meter in length and a beam of 51 meters. Luiz Antonio Alves, CEO of TCP commented “We are truly delighted to have received this permission by the Port Authorities, which will set new standards for ports in Brazil and the region as a whole.
