ZEABORN Acquires CPO Tankers

The international law firm Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) advised Bremen-based Breakbulk shipping line Zeaborn Group (ZEABORN) on its acquisition of Claus-Peter Offen Tankschiffreederei (CPO Tankers).

ZEABORN acquired CPO Tankschiffreederei from the Offen Group, which specialises in the management of oil and product tankers. A purchase agreement for the acquisition of all shares was signed, though the transaction remains subject to approval by the cartel authorities.

The Offen Group, owned by Claus-Peter Offen, is one of the world’s largest suppliers of charter-container tonnage.

ZEABORN is a global shipping company providing services along the entire value chain from financing, commercial and technical management to chartering its own and chartered vessels. It is majority-owned by Bremen-based entrepreneur Kurt Zech, who also heads the Zech-Group GmbH.

With the acquisition of CPO Tankschiffreederei, ZEABORN expands its ship management activities beyond its traditional focus on container ships, heavy-lift and bulk carriers.

The WFW Hamburg team advising ZEABORN was led by Maritime Partner Dr Christian Finnern, supported by Partners Dr Björn-Axel Dißars (Corporate), Gerrit Bartsch (Tax) and Dr Andreas Wiegreffe (Employment). Managing Associates Jörg Walzer (Tax), Dr Malte Koch (Corporate) and Associates Julia König, Dr Frank Wacht (both Maritime) and Richard Henshaw (Employment) also advised on the transaction.

Christian said: “We are delighted to have advised ZEABORN also on this benchmark transaction. Our well-established relationship with them and experienced team of lawyers contributed significantly to the successful completion of this matter. It demonstrates once again the unrivalled expertise and comprehensive advice WFW’s established and fast growing Maritime Group can bring to industry players”.