U.S. Sues to Stop Wilhelmsen From Buying Rival Drew Marine
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission said on Friday it would challenge in court the Norwegian company Wilhelmsen Maritime Services' plan to buy smaller U.S. rival Drew Marine Group. The FTC said the $400 million proposed deal would reduce competition in the market for marine water treatment chemicals, used in a ship's boiler water and engine cooling water systems. If Wilhelmsen closed the deal with New Jersey's Drew Marine, the FTC said the company would have 60 percent of the market for marine water treatment chemicals, while its closest competitor would have 5 percent. "We disagree with the FTC's evaluation and will continue to work towards a positive outcome," Wilhelmsen spokeswoman Benedicte Teigen Gude told Reuters.
Wilhelmsen Ships Service acquires Nalfleet
Wilhelmsen Ships Service has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Nalfleet, the marine division of Nalco, the world's largest sustainability services company. Together with its Unitor chemical range, this will further strengthen and enhance Wilhelmsen Ships Service’s marine chemicals portfolio. Nalfleet provides marine water treatment chemicals and is a sales and technical service organisation supported by an international manufacturing and distribution system operating in more than 500 major ports around the world. Wilhelmsen Ships Service’s own global network is already capable of servicing 2200 ports in 125 countries. This capacity was built upon the Wilhelmsen Maritime Services acquisition of Unitor in 2005 and the subsequent merger with Barwil Agencies.
