Merchant Banking News

With less than ten months before the IMO 2020 regulation on sulfur oxide emission goes into effect Jan 1, carriers and shippers alike are facing an 'uncomfortable uncertainty' over its potential effects on costs and freight rates as they enter the 2019-2020 trans-Pacific contracting period.The International Maritime Organization 2020 (IMO 2020) regulation on sulfur oxide emission will translate into an increase in freight rates, said Seabury Maritime, the global maritime and transportation investment & merchant banking and industry advisory firm, in a whitepaper.The IMO 2020 regulation mandates the reduction of sulfur oxide emission…

Riverstone Holdings and The Carlyle Group jointly announce that  they intend to sell HES International to a consortium of Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets (MIRA) & Goldman Sachs. Macquarie European Infrastructure Fund 5, which is managed by MIRA, and West Street Infrastructure Partners III (WSIP), which is managed by the Merchant Banking Division of Goldman Sachs, have reached an agreement in principle with Riverstone Holdings and The Carlyle Group to acquire HES International. Capital for the original investment by Riverstone and Carlyle came from two funds: (i) Riverstone/Carlyle Global Energy & Power Fund IV, L.P. and (ii) Carlyle International Energy Partners, L.P. (CIEP). HES will now initiate consultations where appropriate with the relevant works councils.

Digital Marine Solutions AS (DMS), the parent company of C-Map, has appointed Paul Østergaard as executive chairman. Together with the DMS board of directors and the C-Map leadership team, Østergaard will develop and implement the company’s strategic plan and lead the company in achieving its growth targets for 2017 and beyond. Østergaard began his career as an officer with the Danish Royal Guards and then spent five years with ship-owner J. Lauritzen in commercial and operational roles in Denmark and Brazil.

Navico – a provider of marine electronics and parent company to the Lowrance, Simrad, B&G and GoFree brands – announced that Goldman Sachs Merchant Banking Division and Altor Fund IV have partnered and signed an agreement to acquire Navico from the Altor 2003 Fund. Navico is an innovative force within the recreational and commercial marine electronics market and has a rich history of investment in research and development. In the last two years, the company developed such technologies as the HALOTM Pulse Compression Radar technology…

Intesa Sanpaolo, through the Merchant Banking Management of its Corporate and Investment Banking Division, and VEI Capital, investment company of Palladio Finanziaria in the Private Equity Mid-Cap segment, have agreed to buy a stake in RINA S.p.A., parent company of the RINA Group, Italy’s E-TIC (Engineering, Testing, Inspection, Certification) service provider. The initial 25 million euros investment by Intesa Sanpaolo and VEI Capital, which will be underwritten by and shared equally between the two partners…

Capital Corp Merchant Banking, a U.S.-based merchant banking group, say they have been working on an environmentally friendly ballast water treatment system (BWTS) project with a client and have entered into USD $41-million funding agreement with them. This patent-pending project makes better, more energy-efficient use of existing ballast water treatment technologies, resulting in a smaller energy footprint of the system and decreasing the ship's power-capacity needs. The funding structure Capital Corp Merchant Banking has devised consists of providing its client with $19M in common stock…

FSL Trust Management Pte. Ltd. (FSLTM), as trustee-manager of First Ship Lease Trust (FSL Trust), has announced the appointment of Michael J. Oliver to its Board of Directors. Mr. Oliver has more than 40 years of international experience in the banking and financial services industry. He joined the London Branch of Commerzbank AG in 1986 and served as its Regional Board Member for Asia Pacific in Singapore from 2001 to 2005 before his retirement. As Regional CEO, he was responsible for Commerzbank branches in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Singapore and Tokyo as well as its merchant banking subsidiaries and corporate banking business in the Asia Pacific Region. Before joining Commerzbank, Mr.

Friede Goldman Halter, Inc., announced that it plans to retain, subject to Bankruptcy Court approval, the services of Houlihan Lokey Howard & Zukin. Houlihan Lokey Howard & Zukin is an international investment banking firm providing a wide range of services including mergers and acquisitions, financial restructuring, private placements of debt and equity capital, business and securities valuations, financial opinions, litigation support, and merchant banking services. In the last decade Houlihan Lokey Howard & Zukin's financial restructuring professionals have consummated over $30 billion in transactions. FGH will draw upon the firm's diverse industry experience, extensive talent base, and resources to coordinate and execute a successful financial restructuring.

The Board of Directors of Overseas Shipholding Group, Inc. (OSG) today announced the appointment of Morten Arntzen as the Company's new President & Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Arntzen, who currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of American Marine Advisors, Inc., a U.S. based merchant banking firm specializing in the maritime industry, has extensive experience in the international shipping business. Mr. Arntzen, 48, will succeed OSG's long-time CEO, Morton P. Hyman, who will retire at the end of this year. "I am honored and excited to assume the leadership of OSG, one of the world's premier tanker companies," said Mr. Arntzen. "Under the leadership of Mort Hyman, the Company has modernized its fleet, streamlined its operating cost structure and strengthened its balance sheet.

The Board of Directors of Overseas Shipholding Group, Inc. (OSG) announced the appointment of Morten Arntzen as the company's new President & CEO. Mr. Arntzen, who last served as CEO of American Marine Advisors, Inc., a U.S. based merchant banking firm specializing in the maritime industry, has extensive experience in the international shipping business. Arntzen, 48, will succeed OSG's long-time CEO, Morton P. Hyman, who recently retired at the end of this year. "I am honored and excited to assume the leadership of OSG, one of the world's premier tanker companies," said Mr. Arntzen. "Under the leadership of Mort Hyman, the Company has modernized its fleet, streamlined its operating cost structure and strengthened its balance sheet.

American Commercial Lines LLC announced that Stephen A. Frasher will step down as President and CEO effective April 30, 2004. ACL will make the following executive changes on that date. Richard L. Huber will assume the position of Chief Executive Officer of American Commercial Lines LLC. Mr. Huber has been a member of the ACL Board since 2000, and currently serves as its Chairman. Mr. Huber has over forty years of investment and merchant banking, international business, and management experience, having held executive positions with Chase Manhattan Bank, Citibank, Bank of Boston, and Continental Bank. He was most recently CEO of Aetna, Inc.

Seabulk International, Inc. announced the signing of a definitive agreement with DLJ Merchant Banking Partners III, L.P., a CSFB Private Equity fund, and affiliated entities, and Carlyle/Riverstone Global Energy and Power Fund I, L.P. for the private placement of 12.5 million shares of newly issued Seabulk common stock at a cash price of $8.00 per share. The $100 million investment would give the new investors approximately 51% of the pro forma, fully diluted common shares of the Company and majority representation on its Board of Directors. The investment is subject to shareholder approval, the refinancing of the Company's senior credit facility, certain regulatory approvals and satisfaction of other customary conditions.

Seabulk International, Inc. and SEACOR Holdings Inc. announced that they have signed a definitive merger agreement. The Boards of Directors of both companies have unanimously approved the transaction. Under the terms of the merger agreement, Seabulk's stockholders will, subject to limited adjustments, receive 0.2694 of a share of SEACOR common stock plus cash of $4.00 for each issued and outstanding share of Seabulk common stock, which represents a 29% premium over Seabulk's closing share price on March 16, 2005 (based on SEACOR's closing share price of such date). In certain circumstances, the portion of the merger consideration payable in cash may be reduced and shares of SEACOR common stock, having a value on the closing date equal to the cash reduction, may be substituted therefor.

(L to R): Arntzen,Reinhart and Andrasick. United Seamen's Service (USS) to James S. Shipholding Group, Inc. and John F. Line, Limited. Towers. Vice Admiral Vivien S. Crea, USCG, Vice Commandant of the U.S. presented James Andrasick his award. The Honorable Sean Connaughton, U.S. Maritime Administrator, presented the award to Morten Arntzen. Atlantic, Gulf Lakes and Inland Water/NMU, AFL-CIO, presented John Reinhart his award. 200 maritime management, labor, and government officials. the event benefit USS community services for the U.S. seafarers of the world. in a ceremony narrated by Mr. Connaughton. represent the very best of the U.S.-flag industry. Mr. Navigation Company, Inc. on July 18, 2003. chief financial officer and treasurer. an interim basis. He is a graduate of the U.S.

MC Shipping Inc. announced that, at a special meeting of shareholders held today, its shareholders approved the merger agreement pursuant to which Mast Acquisition Ltd., a newly-formed affiliate of Bear Stearns Merchant Banking ("BSMB"), will acquire the outstanding shares of MC Shipping for a price of $14.25 per share in cash. Approximately 97.5% of MC Shipping's common shares present and voting at the special meeting were voted in favor of the proposed merger, representing approximately 75.12% of the total number of common shares entitled to vote at the special meeting. In accordance with the terms of the merger agreement, MC Shipping expects to complete the merger within five business days, subject to satisfaction of the conditions to closing set forth in the merger agreement.

The United Seamen's Service (USS) 2007 Admiral of the Ocean Sea Awards will be presented to James S. Andrasick, President and CEO of Matson Navigation Company, Inc., Morten Arntzen, President and CEO of Overseas Shipholding Group, Inc. and John F. Reinhart, President and CEO of Maersk Line, Limited. The honors will officially be awarded at a gala dinner and dance to be held at the Sheraton New York Hotel and Towers, New York City, on November 2, 2007. John Bowers, Chairman of the USS AOTOS Committee and President of the International Longshoremen's Association, AFL-CIO, made the announcements. sector of our industry," said Mr. Bowers. services, tanker shipping and U.S. Honolulu-based Alexander & Baldwin, Inc. International Flag and U.S.

Seabulk International, Inc. announced approval by its shareholders of the issuance of 12.5 million shares of common stock at $8.00 per share to a group of investors led by affiliates of DLJ Merchant Banking Partners III, L.P. and Carlyle/Riverstone Global Energy and Power Fund I, L.P. Proceeds from the transaction, totaling $100 million less applicable fees, will be used to pay down debt, provide working capital and for general corporate purposes. week. * add a number of minority shareholder provisions. recapitalization of the company and paves the way for the completion of the transactions contemplated in our announcement of June 13," commented president and CEO Gerhard E. Kurz.

Seabulk International, Inc. announced the completion of the issuance of 12.5 million shares of common stock at $8.00 per share to a group of investors led by entities associated with DLJ Merchant Banking Partners III, L.P., an affiliate of CSFB Private Equity, and Carlyle/Riverstone Global Energy and Power Fund I, L.P, an affiliate of The Carlyle Group of Washington, D.C. The stock issuance was previously approved by the company's shareholders at a Special Meeting held on September 5. The new investors also purchased approximately 5.1 million shares of outstanding Company common stock (including shares issuable upon the exercise of warrants) beneficially owned by accounts managed by Loomis, Sayles & Co., L.P.