Seascope Shipping Holdings Plc News

British shipbroking group Seascope Shipping Holdings Plc said its chief executive Duncan Hill resigned, effective immediately. Non-executive chairman Tom Young will step in as acting chief executive until a successor is appointed. The company said Hill had decided to further his career outside the shipbroking industry.

Seascope Shipping Holdings Plc agreed to merge with Braemar Shipbrokers Ltd., to help strengthen its position in the London and international shipping markets. Seascope added that the merger with privately owned Braemar would provide a more stable earnings base.

British shipbroking group Seascope Shipping Holdings Plc plans to diversify further beyond its core business despite expecting better shipping markets this year. The company wants to keep broadening its income base, managing director Duncan Hill said, despite forecasting improved shipping earnings in 2000. On Thursday the company reported pre-tax profits of 2 million pounds for 1999, down from 3.2 million in 1998, after OPEC oil cuts hit tanker and offshore markets last year. "I would be hugely disappointed if we are not able to announce another significant acquisition which further diversifies our income base this year," Hill said. Hill declined to give details, but signaled that the acquisition would not be related to online broking ventures being set up by some other brokers.

Shipbroking group Seascope Shipping Holdings Plc said that Tom Young, CEO and chairman, would retire from the roles and become non-executive chairman from September 30. Current director Duncan Hill is slated to become chief executive of the company from October 1.