CP Ships To Acquire Christensen Canadian African Line
CP Ships has reached agreement with Thor Dahl Shipping AS of Norway to acquire Christensen Canadian African Line (CCAL). The transaction is expected to be completed by the end of April. The acquisition includes the CCAL brand and three Astrakhan-class ships, designed to carry containers, breakbulk and Ro-Ro cargo. CCAL, which will operate as part of the CP Ships subsidiary, Americana Ships, offers a 21-day multi-purpose service between Montreal and South Africa under the CCAL brand.
Marine Finance Briefs
Slovenian shipping firm Intereuropa and port operator Luka Koper canceled a planned merger because the government was demanding the right to veto any management decisions in the new firm. The two companies had planned to merge on July 1. The state owns 51 percent of Luka, while Intereuropa is privately owned. The state's equity in the new company would have been 35.7 percent. "There will be no merger under such conditions where the government would have the right to veto practically every management decision," Radovan Vrabec, Intereuropa's deputy chief executive, said. He said the two companies would be ready to continue merger talks if the government eased its demands. Vrabec said the two firms would not suffer short-term damage due to the failure of the merger.
CP Ships Continues New Ship Spending Spree
CP Ships has taken the next step in its major fleet re-building program by signing a contract with China Shipbuilding Corporation of Taiwan for the construction of five geared 3,200 TEU containerships. They are designed to be employed in CP Ships' South American services. Delivery of the newbuildings will take place between mid-2002 and early 2003. The ships will measure 243 m long by 32.2 m wide, and will be equipped with 400 reefer plugs and operate at a service speed of 22.5 knots. Several containerships built by China Shipbuilding Corp already serve in the CP Ships fleet. With the China Shipbuilding contract, CP Ships has passed the half-way point in a series of retonnaging commitments…
Canadian Pacific To Split Up
Canadian Pacific Ltd., one of Canada's biggest and oldest companies, said it would split into five publicly traded firms, a move aimed at shedding a conglomerate discount that had dogged its stock. Besides CP Rail, Canada's No. 2 railway, Canadian Pacific owns 86 percent of cash-rich PanCanadian Petroleum Ltd., the country's top oil and gas explorer and producer, as well as Fording Coal Ltd., CP Ships, a global shipping firm, and CP Hotels. Canadian Pacific, the C$18-billion ($12-billion) transport, energy and hotel concern best known for its national railway, which tied the vast country together in the 19th century, had long been viewed as ripe for breakup because the sum of its parts were seen to be worth more to investors than the whole.
Canadian Pacific to Acquire TMM's Shareholding in Americana Ships
Canadian Pacific Limited has agreed to acquire the outstanding 50% of the Americana Ships joint venture from its partner, Transportacion Maritima Mexicana SA de CV of Mexico. CP Ships and TMM formed Americana Ships in January 1999 as an equal partnership. TMM has now decided to narrow its strategic focus to concentrate on its other activities. Completion of the transaction, which is subject to regulatory approval, is expected early in the new year. It will confer full ownership of the container shipping services operated under the Lykes Lines, TMM Lines and TMG brands to Canadian Pacific's container shipping subsidiary, CP Ships. The transaction also includes the 27,000 teu container fleet owned by TMM and used by Americana Ships.
Canadian Pacific To Acquire TMM's Shareholding In Americana Ships
Canadian Pacific Limited has agreed to acquire the outstanding 50 percent of the Americana Ships joint venture from its partner, Transportacion Maritima Mexicana SA de CV of Mexico. CP Ships and TMM formed Americana Ships in January 1999 as an equal partnership. TMM has now decided to narrow its strategic focus to concentrate on its other activities. Completion of the transaction, which is subject to regulatory approval, is expected early in the new year. It will confer full ownership of the container shipping services operated under the Lykes Lines, TMM Lines and TMG brands to Canadian Pacific's container shipping subsidiary, CP Ships. The transaction also includes the 27,000 teu container fleet owned by TMM and used by Americana Ships.
