APM Terminals to divest Zeebrugge share
2017-09-11 06:56

APM Terminals to divest Zeebrugge share

The following press release was released by APM Terminals.

Agreement signed with COSCO SHIPPING Ports for sale of 76% majority holding in Belgian port facility.

To our valued customers and business partners,

APM Terminals and Hong Kong-based COSCO SHIPPING Ports Limited (“COSCO SHIPPING Ports”), a subsidiary of China COSCO Shipping Corporation Limited (“COSCO SHIPPING”), have reached an agreement on the key terms of the proposed sale of APM Terminals’ 76% majority shareholding in the existing APM Terminals Zeebrugge container terminal to COSCO SHIPPING Ports. The acquisition will bring COSCO SHIPPING Ports’ shareholding in the 1 million TEU annual capacity terminal in Belgium’s second-busiest container port to 100%. As part of the transaction, APM Terminals has proposed to buy back 25% of the Shanghai International Port Group (“SIPG”) shares and will then sell them together with APM Terminals’ own 51% stake in Zeebrugge to COSCO SHIPPING Ports. Further details of the transaction have not been disclosed which is subject to customary regulatory approvals – expected to take three to four months for completion.

APM Terminals opened the Zeebrugge terminal in October 2006 and later sold a 24% share to COSCO SHIPPING Ports in 2014. COSCO SHIPPING and its alliance partners have become the major customers of the port with a long term interest to grow port volumes. “Our decision to divest Zeebrugge reflects our portfolio strategy to focus on long term core assets. We believe COSCO SHIPPING Ports is the right long-term owner of the Zeebrugge facility and will continue to grow the port for customers, employees and the Zeebrugge stakeholder community,” stated Wim Lagaay, Head of APM Terminals USA and Europe Portfolio, based in The Hague, Netherlands.

COSCO SHIPPING operates the world’s largest shipping fleet by tonnage. COSCO SHIPPING Ports is a co-shareholder and strategic partner in several operations within the APM Terminals global terminal network, including the Suez Canal Container Terminal, in Egypt, and Qingdao Qianwan Container Terminal (QQCT) and Guangzhou South China Oceangate Container Terminal (GOCT) in China. In October 2016, COSCO SHIPPING Ports acquired a 40% share in the deep-water APM Terminals Vado terminal project under construction in Vado, Italy.

What does this mean for your business?

Fundamentally, there will be no change on our commercial and operational strategies as APM Terminals Zeebrugge is a common user facility with a strong track-record of serving alliances and shipping lines successfully with berth and quay crane productivity.

Our commercial value proposition will strengthen with the new owner and expected volumes:

Ideal market access to the Central Europe consumer market

  • Belgium 10 million.
  • Northern France 20 million.
  • Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Czech 40 million.
  • Feeder, barge, rail, truck service.
  • Client-focused solutions and relationships with top 20 lines
  • Close access to main shipping routes, allowing better transit times
  • Deepwater access for today’s largest ships.
  • No congestion at water- and landside.
  • 7 Super Post Panamax Cranes with reach of 23+1, 9 tiers high above deck.
  • 2 dedicated RMG’s for all rail operations.
  • 784 reefer plugs.
  • Well-trained, flexible, stable labor.

Your business is important to us and please do not hesitate to contact us should you require any additional information.

Nancy van Osselaer
APM Terminals Zeebrugge, Commercial
Nancy.Van.Osselaer@apmterminals.com
Mobile: +32473923024


Source: APM Terminals (LF)
An article on this topic can be found at The Loadstar.

Source: The Loadstar