WFW advises ZEABORN on acquisition of CPO Tankschiffreederei

Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) has advised Bremen-based Zeaborn Group on its acquisition of Claus-Peter Offen Tankschiffreederei (GmbH & Co.) KG (CPO Tankschiffreederei).

ZEABORN acquired CPO Tankschiffreederei from the Offen Group, which specializes in the management of oil and product tankers. A purchase agreement for the acquisition of all shares was signed, though the transaction remains subject to approval by the cartel authorities. The Offen Group, owned by Claus-Peter Offen, is one of the world’s largest suppliers of charter-container tonnage.

ZEABORN is a global shipping company providing services along the entire value chain from financing, commercial and technical management to chartering its own and chartered vessels. It is majority-owned by Bremen-based entrepreneur Kurt Zech, who also heads the Zech-Group GmbH.

With the acquisition of CPO Tankschiffreederei, ZEABORN expands its ship management activities beyond its traditional focus on container ships, heavy-lift, and bulk carriers.