DFDS A/S has since 2003 owned 66% of the shares of DFDS Lys-Line Rederi and Lys-Line AS, the remaining 34% are owned by Simonsen Holding AS, controlled by the Simonsen family. Both owners have since taken an active part in the businesses, and the companies have had a very positive development, including several significant new long-term contracts related to paper products.
The two owners have found it sensible and industrially desirable that DFDS A/S now takes over the remaining shares in the Lys-Line companies. As a result, DFDS A/S has entered into an agreement with Simonsen Holding AS to buy the remaining 34% of the shares in and DFDS Lys-Line Rederi AS and Lys-Line AS effective 9 December 2005. The parties have agreed not to disclose the price. DFDS A/S now owns 100% of the shares in both companies.
DFDS has requested Morten Simonsen to continue on the Board of the companies, which he has consented to. The management remains unchanged.
Lys-Line AS changes name to DFDS Lys Line AS, and will simultaneously change to the DFDS logo.
The shipping company Lys-Line AS was established by Leif-Erik Simonsen and Egil Slang in 1969. Lys-Line has since then been a very significant partner for large Norwegian- and Swedish industrial companies, primarily within the paper- and metal industry. Through foresight and a large degree of customers focus, Leif Erik Simonsen, his son Morten Simonsen, and a highly competent staff, has developed Lys-Line into a modern short-sea shipping company, with liner trade on the North Sea, Ireland, Spain, as well as chartering- and bulk operations in European waters.
The transportation of paper is currently carried out by combined sideport/container vessels, which operates between the West Coast Norway, the Oslofjord, , Germany, Holland, Belgium, UK and Ireland. Furthermore, the company is operating a liner trade between the Oslofjord, Spain and Hamburg with two newbuildings - 750 teus container vessels. In addition to this, comes a considerable chartering- and bulk operation within Europe, incl. Spain/Portugal and the Rotterdam.Mediterranean
DFDS Lys Line AS currently operates 21 vessels. The company is the largest door/door container operator to the Continent and the , based on a modern container fleet of 1.850 containers, including 600 45` containers. The company has an annual turnover of approx. NOK 1 billion. The organisation has 150 employees spread between the HQ in Oslo, and subsidiaries in UK, Sweden, Germany, Holland, the Belgium and Ireland.
DFDS Lys Line will going forward continue to develop within its core activities, in close co-operation with their customers. Furthermore, the company is also planning to extend its market coverage with focus on door/door container transportation, as well as chartering- and bulk shipping operations. Based on the total production capabilities of the DFDS Group, this will enhance the further development of efficient and environmentally friendly transport solutions by the sea, based on combined sideport/container ship, lo-lo and ro-ro tonnage.
DFDS LYS LINE AS
Hans-Jørgen Wibstad
Managing Director
Contact: DFDS Lys Line – Managing Director Hans-Jørgen Wibstad tel: + 47 91 68 96 61
DFDS A/S, – Director Ole SehestedCopenhagen tel: + 45 40 38 64 10