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GE Shipping announces Demerger details
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News Body: Great Eastern Shipping Company Ltd (GE Shipping) has
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announced that the Board of Directors of the Company at its
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meeting held on September 15, 2005 has approved the details of the
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Scheme for demerger of the Offshore services business into a
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separate company.
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The scheme of demerger approved by the Board envisages the
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demerger of the Offshore business consisting of drilling services,
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marine logistics, marine construction and port/terminal services,
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into a separate new company, Great Offshore Ltd with effect from
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April 01, 2005 through a High Court approved process.
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In consideration of the demerger, shareholders of the Company will
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be issued, at no cost, 1 fully paid share of Rs 10 each in Great
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Offshore Ltd for every 5 shares of the Company held, consequent to
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which and simultaneously, the shares held in the Company will stand
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re-organised to 4 shares of Rs 10 each for every 5 shares currently
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held. The demerger share entitlement ratio approved by the Board
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is on the basis of the recommendations of two leading firms of
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Chartered Accountants and independent valuers, namely, Deloitte
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Haskins & Sells and Kalyaniwalla & Mistry. Since all shareholders
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will be issued shares in Great Offshore Ltd on a proportionate
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basis, there will be no change in the overall shareholding pattern on
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the date demerger becomes effective. Post the demerger, shares of
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Great Offshore Ltd will be listed on the exchanges where the
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Company is currently listed (i.e. The Stock Exchange, Mumbai
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("BSE") and the National Stock Exchange ("NSE").
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Upon the demerger becoming effective, the paid-up share capital of
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Great Offshore Ltd will be Rs 380.70 million, and that of the
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Company will be Rs 1522.70 million, against the existing Rs 1903.40
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million. The networth of Great Offshore Ltd as on April 01, 2005
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would stand at Rs 4461.20 million and that of the Company will
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stand re-organised at Rs 17,410 million, against the existing Rs
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21,871.20 million.
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The demerger, will be in compliance with the provisions of section 2
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(19AA) of the Income Tax Act, and is considered the most efficient,
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tax neutral and shareholder friendly mechanism to restructure the
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businesses.
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In order to achieve the objectives of the restructuring most
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effectively, Mr. Vijay K Sheth who has been managing the Offshore
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Business will be the Managing Director of Great Offshore Ltd. Mr.
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Bharat K Sheth, who has been managing the Shipping Business, will
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continue to manage this business in the Company as Dy. Chairman
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& Managing Director.
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The above restructuring will be subject to relevant approvals and
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confirmation of the demerger scheme by the High Court of Mumbai.
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