Ocean, NFC Merge

Ocean Group Plc has agreed to merge with rival NFC Plc to form a $4.4 billion logistics group with the world's second highest revenues. To be known as Exel Plc, it will have pro forma revenues of more than $5.6 billion. It will also have the scale and global reach to harness runaway growth in freight handling driven by e-commerce. Ocean will offer .28 new shares for each NFC share and "new Exel" - NFC is changing its name to Exel this month - will be around 50 percent-owned by each company's shareholders. The merger pairs Ocean's leading position in air freight forwarding through MSAS Global Logistics with NFC's strength in supply chain services.