WILLEMSTAD - HAL Holding NV has made an unsolicited offer for the Dutch dredging group Boskalis for 4.2 billion dollars. The Curaçao company already owns more than 45 percent of the shares of the dredger, but now wants to have the other shares as well.
The company has bid $32.50 on each share. HAL speaks of a friendly offer in which Boskalis' strategy is continued unchanged. The Boskalis board will study the offer. HAL originated from the Holland-America Line shipping company, which was sold in 1989 to the American Carnival Corporation.
With the acquisition price it was decided to start an investment company under the name HAL Holding, which was established in Curaçao.