Zim needs cash

According to an article in Bloomberg News, Zim will need cash unless the business
improves this year. From what I hear from folks in the industry, that is
not likely to happen.

Lloyd's List has a headline saying Zim is looking for a merger.

In any event, looks like something needs to happen to keep Zim afloat (sorry for the pun!)

From Bloomberg News

Israel Corp.’s Zim Unit Posts Quarterly Loss as Costs Rise

By Shoshanna Solomon - Nov 24, 2011 10:04 AM CT

Israel Corp. (ILCO)’s Zim Integrated Shipping Services Ltd. unit reported a third-quarter loss of $66 million after a year-earlier profit of $37 million as transport prices fell and costs increased.

Shares of Israel Corp., the holding company controlled by the Ofer family, slumped 5 percent to 2,110 shekels, the lowest since September 2009.

“It is still early to evaluate the full impact of Zim on Israel Corp.,” Eran Yunger, an analyst at Midgal Capital Markets in Tel Aviv wrote in an e-mailed report today. Zim “will need an additional injection of cash if there is no change to its business environment,” he wrote.

Container lines’ earnings have slumped this year as fuel prices increase, while rates on Asia-West Coast routes decline. Extra trans-Pacific capacity may prevent the lines from pocketing surcharges that usually make the second half their most profitable period.

Standard & Poor’s Maalot cut Zim to “ilBB-” from “ilBBB- ” with a “negative” outlook today, saying the erosion of transport tariffs and an increasing supply of competing ships will lead to “continued deterioration” at the shipping company.

Israel Corp.’s third-quarter profit rose to $156 million from $106 million a year earlier as revenue increased 21 percent to $3.08 billion.