Bona Shipholding News

Expanding the Suezmax fleet and greater involvement in carrying oil products are among the ambitions being pursued by theTeekay Tanker Services (TTS) business unit of Teekay. "At the same time, we're working to expand our strong Aframax position," said TTS Vice President Peder Farmen, who heads the product transport sector of TTS from the group's Norwegian office in Stavanger. Teekay's conventional shipping operations in Norway have further diversified the company's fleet, the majority of which is comprised of Aframax vessels. Since Teekay's acquisitions of Bona Shipholding in 1999, Ugland Nordic Shipping in 2001 and Navion in 2002, Teekay has established itself as a leading tanker operator in the North Sea and Atlantic, in addition to the Pacific.

Standard & Poor's revised its outlook on Teekay Shipping Corp. to positive from stable. The outlook revision reflects Teekay's consistent, solid performance, which has resulted in a gradually improving financial profile, and expectations for more predictable cash flow generation due to the purchase of contract-based shuttle tanker operator Ugland Nordic Shipping ASA. Teekay's rating reflects a favorable business position as the leading midsize ("Aframax") crude oil tanker operator in the Indo-Pacific Basin, expanded presences in the AtlanticAframax tanker market and the North Sea Shuttle tanker market, and fairly conservative financial policies. These factors are offset by significant, but carefully managed exposure to the volatile tanker spot markets.

Events of the past two years — headlined by the Asian financial crisis, supported by falling oil demand and punctuated by OPEC's production cutbacks to buoy per barrel pricing — have conspired to throw and keep the tanker market into a historical abyss. In an industry renowned for its ups and downs, this was a “down” for the record books. Consequences of poor rates for the transport of oil products have and will be debated for years, but relying on the cliche “if it doesn't kill you, it will only make you stronger,” it would appear that the companies left standing — those not acquired, merged or simply shut down — should be poised to capitalize on favorable market conditions to come. None, though, is so well suited to prosper as Teekay Shipping.

Events of the past two years -- headlined by the Asian financial crisis, supported by falling oil demand and punctuated by OPEC's production cutbacks to buoy per barrel pricing -- have conspired to throw and keep the tanker market into a historical abyss. In an industry renowned for its ups and downs, this was a "down" for the record books. Consequences of poor rates for the transport of oil products have and will be debated for years, but relying on the cliché, "if it doesn't kill you, it will only make you stronger," it would appear that the companies left standing - those not acquired, merged or simply shut down - should be poised to capitalize on favorable market conditions to come. None, though, is so well suited to prosper as Teekay Shipping.

Share prices in Oslo rose in August for the sixth consecutive month, and can thus show for positive share price movements for seven out of eight months so far this year. While the All Share Index gained another 2.4 percent in August, the Shipping Index was a little behind with a 1.4 percent increase. Shipping and Offshore shares are up 43.2 percent for the year. The oil price continued to rise in August. For the first time since October 1997 North Sea oil for immediate delivery (Brent spot) was traded at more than USD 21 per barrel, doubling the oil price since January. Oil-related shares are obediently following the oil price with the value of offshore shares on the Main List rising 11 percent in August after the July rise of 20 percent. TGS Nopec (TGS), Det Søndenfjeldske (SFJ) and Fred.

Share prices in Oslo rose in August for the sixth consecutive month, and can thus show for positive share price movements for 7 out of 8 months so far this year. While the All Share Index gained another 2.4 percent in August, the Shipping Index was a little behind with a 1.4 percent increase. Shipping and Offshore shares are up 43.2 percent for the year. The oil price continued to rise in August. For the first time since October 1997 North Sea oil for immediate delivery (Brent spot) was traded at more than USD 21 per barrel, doubling the oil price since January. Oil-related shares are obediently following the oil price with the value of offshore shares on the Main List rising 11 percent in August after the July rise of 20 percent. TGS Nopec (TGS), Det Søndenfjeldske (SFJ) and Fred.

Teekey Shipping Corp. said its chairman, Axel Karlshoej, will resign from the board because of work demands at his company, Nordic Industries. Karlshoej will be replaced by C. Sean Day, a member of the board and consultant to the trust group that holds about 45 percent of Teekay’s shares. Teekay also said it expanded the board to nine members from eight, appointing Leif O. Hoegh to the ninth position in conjunction with Teekay’s acquisition of Bona Shipholding Ltd.

Teekay Shipping Corp. has completed its cash and stock acquisition of Bona Shipholding Ltd. Under the deal, Bona’s shares were converted into a right to receive either a cash payment of $7.00 for each Bona share or 0.485 of a Teekay share for each Bona share.