ThyssenKrupp, the parent company of Blohm+Voss, has canceled the planned sale of the superyacht shipyard to Abu Dhabi MAR Group.
In a statement, ThyssenKrupp explains that despite “amicable talks” over the past two years, “Both parties believe that the commercial drivers for the transaction have weakened to a point that opportunities previously identified are no longer commercially viable.”
In October 2009, ThyssenKrupp announced it would sell an 80-percent stake in Blohm+Voss to Abu Dhabi MAR Group. The company stated that the financial crisis “created a need for decisive action in the civil shipbuilding area: Capacities in commercial shipbuilding had to be reduced, exports strengthened, and the problem in Greece solved.” Regarding the latter, last year ThyssenKrupp successfully divested a 75-percent interest in Hellenic Shipyards. The purchaser: Abu Dhabi MAR Group.
The agreement with Abu Dhabi MAR Group over Blohm+Voss was part of a larger deal in which the two companies would jointly produce naval ships. Abu Dhabi MAR Group will have the majority control over Blohm + Voss shipyards, Blohm + Voss repair, and Blohm + Voss industries. This included its megayacht business. (Read more: Abu Dhabi MAR Buys Blohm + Voss.)
ThyssenKrupp released the following statement this morning:
“For the civil operations of Blohm+Voss we are working without delay on solutions with the aim of transferring these companies in the medium term to new owners capable of placing a stronger strategic focus on the business of these companies than ThyssenKrupp can.”
According to a Dow Jones report, a ThyssenKrupp spokeswoman says other companies are already interested in acquiring Blohm+Voss. She declined to name them but did say the goal is to conclude the sale within the next 18 months.
Leave a Reply