EMEA News
Shipbroker Clarksons In Talks to Buy Platou
London-headquartered Clarksons Plc says it is currently in talks to acquire Norwegian shipbroker RS Platou ASA.
Clarksons, currently the world's largest shipbroker, did not release details on the price or the terms.
In its statement, the company said that given the complementary nature of both companies, "the boards of both Clarksons and Platou believe the enhanced offering of the combined business positions the enlarged group as a leading integrated global shipping and offshore group."
"The market is consolidating and demanding a higher degree of advisory professional services," Peter Anker, CEO of Platou, was quoted as saying by Tradewinds, who also indicated that he was excited by the deal.
Players in the industry agreed that consolidation would be the natural course for many companies, pushed by falling charter prices and declining prices of new and secondhand ships, reports MarketWatch.
"If the deal goes through, it will likely be followed by other tie-ups among smaller players," said one source.
"Just like in the shipping industry, having a partner is preferable to being alone these days."
Though Clarksons said in its statement that there was no guarantee that the deal would go through, the source also added that Platou "has been looking or at least keeping its eyes open for a buyer for some years."
Germany's Hapag-Lloyd and Chile's Compañía Sudamericana de Vapores (CSAV) are also in the process of merging, having just received approval from Brazilian regulators earlier this month.
