A leading global private equity firm has a venture with a leading owner of container ships to buy container ships. They must believe that rates will rise. The brave hearts may want to try their luck with Samudera and those shipping trusts that have fleets of container vessels.
Carlyle Group formed a joint venture with Seaspan Corp, the Washington Family and the Tiger Group to buy more than US$5 billion worth of vessels with. Seaspan and Washingtonwould invest solely in container vessels purchased by the newly formed firm. Seaspan charters container ships to shipping lines and is one of the biggest players in this market segment.
“We believe there is a compelling opportunity to serve Asia’s continuing growth in demand for shipping capacity.” The joint venture will invest equity capital of US$900 mill ion in the next five years, buying container, dry bulk, tanker vessels and other shipping assets.
