Bocimar, Investor Offer To Buy Out Wah Kwong
Bocimar Far East Holdings, along with a shareholder of Wah Kwong Shipping Holdings Ltd., have offered to buy out the Hong Kong shipping group, which has been suspended from trading since June 1 pending news of the offer, officials said. Bocimar - a unit of Belgian shipping firm Compagnie Maritime Belge SA (CMB) - and Wah Kwong investor George Chao made a joint offer to buy the 57.7 percent they did not already own at HK$5.65 ($.73) per share. Bocimar already owns 27.1 percent, and Chao owns 15.2 percent, a spokesperson said. Bocimar and Chao plan to delist Wah Kwong from the London and Hong Kong stock exchanges if they are successful in buying up all of the shares, CMB officials said.
Wah Kwong Goes Private
Wah Kwong Shippping Holdings said its shareholders approved a joint HK$50 million buy-out bid from Belgium's Compagnie Maritime Belge SA (CMB) and Wah Kwong president George Chao. Company shares will resume trading in Hong Kong on Wednesday. The last day of trading for Wah Kwong shares in London is July 21, and July 24 for Hong Kong. Delisting is scheduled for July 26. The joint offer from CMB and Chao was made at HK$5.65 per share, to acquire 57.7 percent of Wah Kwong shares. CMB's Bocimar Far East Holdings unit owned 27.1 percent of the company, whilst Chao held a 15.2 percent stake. Wah Kwong shares closed at HK$5.50 on Tuesday. The company is engaged in the transport of bulk cargo such as coal and iron ore.
