HNA Wants to Make Gategroup Undisputed Market Leader
Chinese aviation and shipping conglomerate HNA Group wants to make Gategroup into the "undisputed leader in airline catering" after making an offer for the Swiss business, HNA's chief executive said on Monday. HNA's 53 Swiss franc per share cash offer was unanimously supported by the Swiss caterer's board. While a rival bid was still possible, Gategroup Chairman Andreas Schmid said on a media conference call, the company was not actively seeking other offers. HNA Chief Executive Adam Tan did not respond directly when asked whether the Chinese conglomerate would be willing to up its bid if another suitor made a bid. "We've already made a very attractive offer to the shareholders," Tan said. (Reporting by Paul Arnold, Writing by Brenna Hughes Neghaiwi)
AAPA Applauds Senate Passage of Trade Promotion Legislation
The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) applauded Senate passage over the past weekend of the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015 (TPA-2015), and today sent a letter to House leadership to urge making passage of TPA-2015 a priority. Trade activity through seaports accounts for 26 percent of the U.S. economy, generates over 23 million American jobs, and provides over $320 billion in local, state and federal tax revenues, the AAPA noted.
US Awards $2.6m in Maritime Heritage Grants
On Thursday, April 30, 2015, U.S. National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis and U.S. Maritime Administrator Paul N. Jaenichen will host a media conference call to highlight projects receiving grants through the Maritime Heritage Program. In all, the 35 projects in 21 states will receive more than $2.6 million in funds to support a broad range of maritime education and preservation projects nationwide. The National Maritime Heritage Grant Program is administered by the National Park Service in partnership with the Maritime Administration. The grants are supported by revenue from the scrapping of vessels from the Maritime Administration’s National Defense Reserve Fleet.
BSEE's Watson to Visit AK Offshore Site
Director Watson Visits Arctic Drilling Rigs for First-Hand Look at Safety Equipment, Meets with Alaska Native Community Leaders, Shell Officials; Today holding media conference call to discuss visit and BSEE inspection and oversight activities. As part of the Obama Administration’s commitment to safe and responsible offshore energy exploration and development, Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) Director Jim Watson today visited the two drilling rigs that Shell has proposed using for exploration activities in the arctic this summer.
