Sweden’s Wallenius and Norway’s Wilh. Wilhelmsen will merge their car and roll-on/roll-off transport businesses to create the world’s largest car and ro/ro shipping company.
The two companies have signed an agreement to establish a joint company owned on a 50/50 basis that will operate more than 70 specialized ships, representing the entire fleet of car and ro-ro ships of the two shipping lines.
The company will also have some container capacity in some markets.
The vessels will continue to be owned by Wallenius Lines and Wilh. Wilhelmsen.
The joint company will provide "a global network and integrated vehicle logistics" to meet the global requirements of manufacturers, the companies said. The merger will be effective on July 1, subject to regulatory approval. Ingar Skaug, president of Wilhelmsen Lines, will be president and chief executive officer of the new company. Christer Olsson, president of Wallenius Lines, will be chairman of the board of the merged company.
