MEDIA

06 Nov 2010

100% control of Port Akdeniz has been acquired by Global Ports Holding

Global Liman İşletmeleri A.Ş. ("Global Ports") has acquired 100% control of Ortadoğu Antalya Liman İşletmeleri A.Ş. ("Port Akdeniz - Antalya")
Istanbul, Turkey
Global Ports announced today that it has completed the acquisition of 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of Ortadoğu Antalya Liman İşletmeleri A.Ş. ("Port Akdeniz - Antalya"). Previously, Port Akdeniz was operated as a joint venture among Global Ports, Çelebi Holding A.Ş. ("Çelebi") and Antmarin Denizcilik A.Ş. ("Antmarin"). Henceforth, Port Akdeniz - Antalya will be managed solely by Global Ports, a subsidiary of the Istanbul Stock Exchange listed Global Yatırım Holding A.Ş. ("Global Investment Holdings").
In addition to its ownership of Port Akdeniz - Antalya, Global Ports holds 72.5% of Ege Ports - Kuşadası, the largest Turkish cruise port, and 60% of Bodrum Cruise Port.
Mr. Gregory Michael Kiez, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Global Ports, stated:
"We are pleased to have completed our acquisition of Port Akdeniz, a combined commercial and cruise sea port, and a vitally important contributor to Turkey's import, export and tourism industries. We see this acquisition as an important step in furthering Global Ports' growth in the Turkish maritime sector."
Mr. Kiez added: "Since 2006, substantial capital expenditures at Port Akdeniz have permitted the expansion of commercial operations in Antalya, in particular as a result of investment in new container handling equipment, cranes and tugboats.
Additionally, the existing cruise passenger terminal building was extensively renewed, and now operates as a turn-around cruise port."
Global Ports intends significantly to increase general and bulk cargo operations, as well as container cargo volumes at Port Akdeniz, and hopes to make the port of Antalya a central part of commercial trade and cruise tourism in the Mediterranean by offering safe, effective and multifunctional services.
In order to allow Port Akdeniz rapidly to reach its goals, new management has been appointed. Captain Ayhan Çiftçi has been named as General Manager of Port Akdeniz, while Ms. Figen Ayan will be Director of Cruise Operations.