Osprey Reports Strong Profits
Osprey Maritime Ltd., in the middle of being taken over by Norwegian shipping magnate John Fredriksen, reported a sharp earnings turnaround on Wednesday, suggesting to analysts that Fredriksen had got a good bargain. The Singaporean energy transportation firm, which used to be controlled by a group of Indonesians including Bambang Trihatmodjo, son of former President Suharto, said it expected to report group attributable net profit for the whole year of at least $ 37 million. Last year it lost $191 million, mainly due to a hefty write-down in the value of its fleet of vessels at the bottom of the tanker cycle. Analysts said the profit forecast beat their expectations and showed that Osprey was enjoying a strong turnaround on the back of a rapid rise in tanker rates this year.
WCS Buys More Osprey Shares
Oil transportation giant World Shipholding Group bought another 523,000 shares in Singapore's Osprey Maritime Ltd, marginally increasing its stake to 53.08 percent. In a statement to the Singapore Exchange, World Shipholding said the Osprey shares -- representing 0.155 percent of the energy transportation group -- were bought in the open market at $1 each. Osprey shares were unchanged at $0.99 when they were last traded on Monday. World Shipholding, amassed 52.93 percent in Osprey from various parties between August and November 28. On December 4, the group made a formal bid of $1 per share for the stake it did not already own after breaching Singapore's takeover trigger of 25 percent.
Fredriksen Ups Osprey Offering
Norway's John Fredriksen raised his offer price for Singapore's Osprey Maritime by 12.5 percent in a move seen likely to result in a management change and possible de-listing of the group. Fredriksen, through his privately held World Shipholding Ltd., lifted his offer from S$1.00 to S$1.125 per share for the 38.85 percent of the tanker group he does not already own. Osprey shares ended up 11 percent at S$1.11 after hitting a high of S$1.16. Volume was thin at 660,000 shares. After the market close, the firm announced that its board member Charles Klotz had resigned effective January 10. It did not give a reason. The higher offer comes after criticism from Osprey management that World's initial offer undervalued the company.
