COSCO-OOCL entity would be world’s 3rd largest carrier: Drewry

• COSCO Shipping offers $6.3 b for Orient Overseas Ltd

The latest shipping market combination between COSCO Shipping Holdings and Orient Overseas International Lines (OOIL) would become the world’s third largest container carrier if finalised, according to shipping consultancy Drewry.

The entity, which would have a combined fleet of 400 vessels operated over a much expanded network, with capacity exceeding 2.9 million TEUs including orderbook, would overtake its partner in the Ocean Alliance, CMA CGM.

On July 9, COSCO Shipping Holdings and Shanghai International Port Group (SIPG) made a pre-conditional voluntary general offer to acquire all issued OOIL shares at an offer price of HKD 78.67 ($ 10.07) in cash.

The price represents a 31% premium closing price of HKD 60 and values OOIL at around HKD 49.2 billion ($ 6.3 billion). On the completion of the deal, COSCO will hold 90.1% while SIPG will hold the remaining 9.9% stake in OOIL.

From a hardware perspective, OOCL has an owned-fleet of 66 containerships aggregating around 440,000 TEU. It is a young and modern fleet with an average age of 7.1 years and average nominal capacity of 6,600 TEU. It is introducing its first 21,000 TEU vessel with five more to deliver and options for another six which it could easily exercise.

“Operationally, fitting OOCL into the bigger company should not be too difficult as both OOCL and COSCO already belong to the Ocean Alliance that operates mainly in the East-West container trades,” Drewry said. The biggest impact will be felt in Intra-Asia, where both carriers already have a large presence, while the footprint in the Asia to Middle East trade will also rise significantly.

From a marketing perspective the acquisition of OOCL “will enable COSCO to broaden its customer base, having previously being perceived, rightly or wrongly, as China-centric.”

Earlier reports suggested the valuation of the deal would be closer to $ 4 billion, which would be similar to what CMA CGM paid for NOL/APL. That always seemed undervalued considering OOIL’s better financial performance and reputation, plus the improving market outlook. However, at USD 6.3 billion “the price does seem a bit steep.”

According to Drewry Maritime Financial Research, OOIL’s book value stood at $ 4.5 billion based on FY16 numbers, meaning OOIL was able to extract a sizeable premium.

Kuehne raises Hapag-Lloyd shareholding to 17.15%

FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Logistics entrepreneur Klaus-Michael Kuehne has raised his shareholding in German container shipping line Hapag-Lloyd to 17.15% from 14.1%, his Swiss-based Kuehne Holding said last week.

Kuehne was taking advantage of shares being sold by TUI , which on Tuesday completed the disposal of its remaining 7.9% of shares to focus on cruise ship acquisitions.

TUI’s move allowed Kuehne to expand its investment in Hapag-Lloyd, which it said it considered to be long-term.

“The ongoing shipping industry consolidation offers Hapag-Lloyd new growth perspectives and strengthens its positions among the most important shipping companies across the world,” Kuehne Holding executive chairman Karl Gernandt said.

Kuehne started investing in Hapag-Lloyd in 2008 to support the company’s Hamburg base and fend off an approach by Singapore-based shipping rival NOL.

Hapag-Lloyd’s biggest shareholders, apart from Kuehne and the city of Hamburg, are Arab peer UASC, which it took over this year, reaching a joint number five position in worldwide shipping.

In 2014, it took over Chilean peer CSAV.

The most recent example of consolidation in shipping, which further boosts the existing group of top companies, is this week’s bid by China’s COSCO for Hong Kong peer Orient Overseas (OOIL). 

However, Drewry said that, notwithstanding any potential roadblocks to future M&A, the consolidation that has already occurred, plus much brighter market prospects and the moratorium on new ships, offers carriers a golden opportunity for far greater profitability in the near future. With fewer carriers, that in time will become financially stronger; the pendulum is swinging back towards those that have grown to survive.