BELGIAN TERMINAL OPERATORS FINALIZE MERGER

BELGIAN TERMINAL OPERATORS FINALIZE MERGER    Hessenatie and Noord Natie, the Belgian terminal operators, have finalized their merger into a company that will operate under the name Hesse-Noord Natie.
   Initially, 60 percent of the shares in the company will be owned by CMB, the shipping company that controlled Hessenatie, and 40 percent by Noord Natie.
   However, the owners of the merged company expect to sell a majority interest in Hesse-Noord Natie to Singapore-based port group PSA Corp. before the end of the first quarter. CMB will retain a participating interest of 20 percent in the company.
   Hesse-Noord Natie operates a total of 22 terminals in the ports of Antwerp and Zeebrugge in Belgium, including six container terminals in the port of Antwerp. It also runs specialized terminals for general cargo goods, sugar, fruits and roll-on/roll-off ships.