Decision on sale of SeaFrance assets

Copenhagen, 2012-06-11

Today the commercial court of Paris decided to sell the three former SeaFrance ferries and other assets to Eurotunnel, following a bidding process in which DFDS/LDA also participated.

DFDS has voiced concern to EU
Eurotunnel’s stated intention of deploying SeaFrance’s ferries between Dover and Calais has prompted DFDS to voice its concern to relevant national competition authorities regarding the compliance of such a transaction with applicable merger control rules as Eurotunnel’s current market share on the Channel (Dover Strait) exceeds 40%. DFDS’ total current market share is around 18%.

DFDS has also voiced its concern about the potential involvement of public funding and suggested the European Commission to investigate this further in continuation of the Commission’s decision of 2011 not to allow further state aid to SeaFrance.

DFDS’ commitment to the Channel
To meet demand from passengers and freight customers, DFDS/LDA opened a new route between Dover and Calais in February 2012 following the reduction of transport capacity on the Dover Strait after SeaFrance was closed in January 2012.

The route now deploys two chartered ships. The first ship was deployed in February 2012 and at the end of April 2012 a second ship was deployed. The Dover-Calais route has now created 300 new jobs.

DFDS/LDA is committed to the future development of the new Dover-Calais route and the incumbent Dover-Dunkirk route, and not least the long-term employment of a total of about 1,000 staff on the two routes. In total, DFDS/LDA deploys five ships on the Dover Strait.

DFDS press release