Sea France asetettu konkurssiin

[Timo Selkälä]

Ja uutisia Ranskanmaalta. Lehtitietojen (Le Figaro) mukaan vain 2 huutajaa on tarjonnut jotakin Sea Farcen sisarista ja Nord-Pas-de-Calaisista. Huutajat ovat kuulemma Stena ja Eurotunnel. Ilmeisesti Eurotunnel tarjonnut vähemmän mutta saattaa silti saada laivat koska lupaa liputtaa ne Ranskaan Dover-Calaisliikennettä varten. Hintaluokka kolmelle ilmeisesti 120 MEUR. Halvalla menee.

[Kalle Id]

Ei ole kallista kyllä. Ja aika yllättävää jos oikeasti on ollut vain kaksi huutajaa, olisin veikannut ainakin DFDS:n yrittävän.

[Timo Selkälä]

Tänään liikkuvien vahvistamattomien lehtihuhujen mukaan DFDS/LD-Lines on myös jättänyt tarjouksen. Ainoa joka kommentoi on Eurotunnel joka kehuskelee työpaikkojen menevän Sea Farcen entiselle henkilöstölle.

[Timo Selkälä]

Tarjoukset julkistettu. Taskurahoja niistä on tarjottu:

"The 3 offers have been discovered, this afternoon :
- Eurotunnel : 30 millions â,¬ for Rodin, 30 millions â,¬ for Berlioz, 1 million â,¬ for NPC and 4 millions for all the rest that permit to start exploitation
- LD/DFDS : 30 millions â,¬ for Berlioz, 25 millions â,¬ for Rodin or 50 millions â,¬ for both
- Stena Line : 30 millions â,¬ for Rodin"http://www.doverferryphotosforums.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=2550&p=16267#p16267

[Timo Selkälä]

Huhujen mukaan kauppa vahvistetaan tänään - ja putkenpätkän omistajan tarjous hyväksytään. Aihetta sivuten - mutta myöhemmin tänään on luvassa tietoakin.

http://www.lefigaro.fr/societes/2012/06/10/20005-20120610ARTFIG00177-sncf-conseil-d-administration-decisif-pour-seafrance.php

[Kalle Id]

Ja niinhän siinä kävi, että Eurotunnel sai alukset luvattuaan rahdata ne SeaFrancen työtekijöiden muodostamalle yhtiölle joka palauttaa ne Dover-Calais linjan liikenteeseen: http://www.ulkomatala.net/magazine/?p=240

Ei ihan äkkiseltään kuulosta fiksulta, varustamo meni jo kerran konkkaan tuolla linjalla ja nyt yritetään uudestaan samoilla laivoilla ja samalla lipulla... ::)

[Timo Selkälä]

Kallen jutusta saksittua:
SeaFrancen neljäs alus SeaFrance Moliére (ex-Superfast X, Jean Nicoli) ei kuulunut kauppaan aluksen monimutkaisista omistussuhteista johtuen.

Tämä on totta sikäli että alus ei ollut konkurssipesään kuuluva, vaan ennen konkurssia pankki/pankit otti sen haltuunsa johtuen siitä että ymmärsivät että eivät konkurssissa saisi läheskään siihen sijoitettuja rahoja takaisin. Jos saamani tieto pitää paikkansa, niin alukseen on sijoitettu (eli pankin kannalta rahoitettu) noin 130-140 MEUR ja markkinahinta normaalimyynnissä olisi luokkaa 60-70 MEUR. Siksi on mahdollista että alus tulee olemaan pitkäänkin makuutettuna.

Jos ihmettelette miksi SNCF jonka lupa velkojana tarvittiin tämän myynnin hyväksymiseen suostui siihen nyt - kun viikko takaperin sama taho sanoi ehdottomasti ei - niin syy on hyvin yksinkertainen. SNCFn johto suostui menettämään 220 MEUR sitä vastaan että heille taataan syytesuoja SeaFrancen konkurssista mahdollisesti syntyviin oikeudenkäynteihin.

Lisäys: DFDS protestoi kauppaa vastaan! Eikä ihan syyttä.

DECISION ON SALE OF SEAFRANCE ASSETS
Copenhagen, 2012-06-11 23:55 CEST (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Announcement no. 16/2012

Today the commercial court of Paris decided to sell the three former SeaFrance ferries and other assets to Eurotunnel, following a bidding process in which DFDS/LDA also participated.

DFDS has voiced concern to EU
Eurotunnels stated intention of deploying SeaFrances ferries between Dover and Calais has prompted DFDS to voice its concern to relevant national competition authorities regarding the compliance of such a transaction with applicable merger control rules as Eurotunnels current market share on the Channel (Dover Strait) exceeds 40%. DFDS total current market share is around 18%.

DFDS has also voiced its concern about the potential involvement of public funding and suggested the European Commission to investigate this further in continuation of the Commissions decision of 2011 not to allow further state aid to SeaFrance.

DFDS commitment to the Channel
To meet demand from passengers and freight customers, DFDS/LDA opened a new route between Dover and Calais in February 2012 following the reduction of transport capacity on the Dover Strait after SeaFrance was closed in January 2012.

The route now deploys two chartered ships. The first ship was deployed in February 2012 and at the end of April 2012 a second ship was deployed. The Dover-Calais route has now created 300 new jobs.

DFDS/LDA is committed to the future development of the new Dover-Calais route and the incumbent Dover-Dunkirk route, and not least the long-term employment of a total of about 1,000 staff on the two routes. In total, DFDS/LDA deploys five ships on the Dover Strait.

[Kalle Id]

Moliére-asia on korjattu blogijuttuun, kiitokset Timolle.

[Timo Selkälä]

Huhutaan Sea France Molieren myydyn Liettuaan.

Liekö DFDS/Liscon liikenteeseen, vai Liettuan lipulla kanaalin liikenteseen?

[Timo Selkälä]

Viime päivinä lopultakin tuli vastaus: Kun muut lautat menivät konkurssipesältä My Little Ferryn eiku MyFerry Linkin käyttöön reitille Dover-Calais, niin Moliere on nyt vuokrattu samalle linjalle DFDS LD-Linesin toimesta. Kuulemma piakkoin tulee Deal Seawaysin tilalle. Sinänsä sääli sillä Deal Seaways on oikeastaan paras reitin laivoista - paitsi nopeutensa puolesta.

[Timo Selkälä]

My Little Ferryn taru sai mutkia matkaan.

Firma on liikennöinyt hyvin pienellä käyttöasteella ja selvästi tappiolla. Nyt paikallinen kilpailuvirasto kieltää Eurotunnelin omistamien aluksien liikennöinnin Doverista. Liikenteen loputtava 6 kuukauden sisällä. Toinen mutka matkassa on että ranskalainen tuomioistuin kielsi jo aluksia ostettaessa niiden edelleen myynnin ennen vuotta 2017.

http://www.competition-commission.org.uk/media-centre/latest-news/2013/Jun/cc-to-bar-eurotunnel-ferries-from-dover
Eurotunnel will be stopped from operating ferry services at the port of Dover, after the Competition Commission (CC) decided that its acquisition of three ferries and other assets from the former ferry operator, SeaFrance, could mean higher prices for cross-Channel passengers and freight customers.

In its final report published today, the CC has concluded that by adding ferry services to its existing Channel Tunnel business, Eurotunnel would increase its market share to over half and prices would rise. This confirms the CC's provisional findings which were published in February.

The CC found that Eurotunnel decided to acquire the SeaFrance ferries in order to prevent ferry operator DFDS/LD from buying them. Eurotunnel was concerned that if DFDS/LD obtained the assets cheaply, it could drive down prices for customers. The CC also found that one of the three current ferry operators on the Dover–Calais route was likely to exit in the short term, if the CC took no action, in which case Eurotunnel could gain an even larger share of the cross-Channel market.

Chairman of the Eurotunnel/SeaFrance Inquiry Group and CC Deputy Chairman, Alasdair Smith, said:

'It cannot be good for competition when Eurotunnel, which already holds a market share of over 40 per cent, moves into the ferry business—particularly when it did so to stop a competitor from buying the ferries. Customers would lose out from Eurotunnel increasing its share even further and being able to raise prices on the tunnel services.

'In view of the current excess capacity on the Dover–Calais route, it also seems likely that one of the current ferry operators will exit in the short term if we don't take action. Customers will be better off if there are two independent ferry companies competing with the tunnel than if one of the two is owned by Eurotunnel.

'By preventing Eurotunnel from operating ferry services out of Dover, we can protect the interests of customers. We did consider ordering Eurotunnel to sell the ferries but we were conscious of the uncertainties and possible delays affecting a sale.

'We can achieve the same outcome this way and it should be clear that we will not be diverted from ensuring the best result for customers.'

Eurotunnel provides rail transport services to both passengers and freight customers across the narrowest section of the English Channel via the Channel Tunnel. Until November 2011, SeaFrance provided ferry services to both passengers and freight customers across the same section of the English Channel between Dover and Calais.

Three of the four vessels and other related assets operated by SeaFrance at the time of its liquidation were subsequently bought by Eurotunnel which then launched ferry services between Calais and Dover on 20 August 2012 under the MyFerryLink brand.

At the time of the sale the French Commercial Court made an Order prohibiting the onward sale by Eurotunnel of the vessels until 2017, so an Order by the CC to sell the MyFerryLink business would be subject to delay and uncertainty as it would require the French Court to lift its Order.

Before the prohibition at Dover takes effect, Eurotunnel will be given a limited period to sell its two largest ferries to one or more purchasers approved by the CC as a means of solving the competition problem that the CC has found (see Notes for editors). This will ensure that all Dover–Calais ferry services are run by companies which are independent from the competing rail link.

The final report and all other information relating to the investigation are available on the inquiry home page. The deadline for the final report is 9 June 2013, which was extended by eight weeks (PDF, 27 Kb)  from the date originally indicated when the case was referred by the Office of Fair Trading.

Notes for editors
1. The CC is an independent public body, which carries out investigations into mergers, markets and the regulated industries.

2. Eurotunnel will be prohibited from operating ferry services at the port of Dover for two years with any vessel and for ten years with the Berlioz and the Rodin. As an alternative to the ten-year prohibition, Eurotunnel may sell the Berlioz and the Rodin in order to address the CC's competition concerns, but would still be prohibited from operating ferry services with any vessel at the port of Dover for a period of two years.

3. The members of the Eurotunnel/SeaFrance Inquiry Group are: Alasdair Smith (Chairman of the Group and CC Deputy Chairman), Robin Aaronson, Ivar Grey and Malcolm Nicholson.

4. The Enterprise Act 2002 empowers the Office of Fair Trading to refer to the CC com-pleted or proposed mergers for investigation and report which create or enhance a 25 per cent share of supply in the UK (or a substantial part thereof) or where the UK turnover associated with the enterprise being acquired is over £70 million.

5. The CC has a 24-week period in which it is required to publish its report, which may be extended by no more than eight weeks if it considers that there are special reasons why the report cannot be published within that period.

6. Further information on this inquiry, including the terms of reference and other key documents, as well as on the CC and its procedures, including its policy on the provision of information and the disclosure of evidence, can be obtained from the CC website at: www.competition-commission.org.uk.

7. Enquiries should be directed to Rory Taylor or Siobhan Allen or by ringing 020 7271 0242.

[Timo Selkälä]

Tuskin kukaan hämmästynyt kun Eurotunnel aikoo valittaa päätöksestä.


http://www.eurotunnelgroup.com/uploadedFiles/assets-uk/Media/Press-Releases/2013-Press-Releases/130606-GETvsCC-UK.pdf

PRESS RELEASE
6 June 2013
Groupe Eurotunnel to appeal the decision of the Competition Commission to
prohibit the activity of French ferry company MyFerryLink
The Competition Commission has decided, on 6 June 2013, to prohibit Groupe Eurotunnel
from operating a ferry activity from the port of Dover.
Groupe Eurotunnel will immediately appeal this decision which the group finds
incomprehensible and seriously disproportionate. In reality this decision:
 Is not based on any concrete facts, but solely upon a random association of virtual
hypothesis,
 Restructures the maritime activity across the Straits of Dover into a duopoly, thereby
disadvantaging consumers,
 Prohibits access to a port, in total contradiction with the freedom of movement
incarnate in Europe,
 Deprives the Ports of Dover and Calais of significant revenues,
 Ignores the ruling of the Paris Commercial Court linking the sale of the assets of
SeaFrance with a requirement not to re-sell them for a period of five years and is in
contradiction with the decision of the French Competition Authority.
Jacques Gounon, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Groupe Eurotunnel SA,
stated: "This decision by the Competition Commission will reduce the choice of services
across the Straits of Dover to the detriment of the consumer. It will inevitably lead to an
increase in the price of a crossing".