Thursday, December 17, 2015

Mergers Ahead

Now that CMA CGM will purchase NOL (APL), and China Shipping and COSCO are set to merge,
what will be the next mergers?

Hapag Lloyd was looking to buy NOL, but lost out to CMA CGM, so will Hapag Lloyd be looking for another line to acquire?

Who are the likely candidates?

A merger between the two Korean companies, Hyundai Merchant Marine and Hanjin Shipping is possible. Even though the stock of each company is traded on the Korean stock exchange, somehow I think the government would not let either company be sold to a non-Korean company.

OOCL is listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange.  I don't know if there is a majority owner who could possibly block a sale.  According to published data they are making money.  If I were looking to buy a shipping company, this one has possibilities.

Yang Ming's stock is listed on the Taiwan Exchange.  According to Bloomberg, this company has negative earnings of around 1.00, with the stock trading around 8.00.   This company is leasing newbuilds (ships) from Seaspan, and I don't know how many of their fleet might be owned.  The fundamentals of this company look problematic.  They might be purchased cheaply, but if the industry continues in it's downward trend this company might not make it.

That's it for now.