The Lloyd’s List Podcast: Is it a good time for a dry bulk shipping merger?
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Scale via a merger is a useful way to tackle new emission rules and increasing sanction risks, which are among the market uncertainties facing shipowners, even in the most fragmented of segments. But you will have to get the right chemistry between people first. Cetus Maritime chief executive Mark Young discusses whether now is a good time for a dry bulk shipping merger
THERE are successful mergers in business and those that have fallen through, but there is not one case that has been easy.
In the world of shipping, a merger is arguably even tougher, with the owners’ big egos well known in many sectors, often preventing an economically sensible tie-up from happening, or simply resulting in a bad marriage.
But now, the exigence of a global energy transition, the increasingly complicated sanction regimes, and growing competition and economic decoupling between the superpowers are underscoring an unprecedented time of uncertainty facing our industry.
Will this generate enough extra momentum for companies, even in the most fragmented segments, to consider combining their business?
For this week’s edition of the podcast, our Asia editor Cichen Shen invited Mark Young, the Hong Kong-based chief executive of newly created Cetus Maritime, to discuss whether now is a good time for a merger.