Global Ports Holding PLC has confirmed receiving a purchase offer from the Swiss company MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company.
Shares in the London-listed company closed up 19% after Global Ports confirmed a Bloomberg report that MSC was considering a takeover bid.
Global Ports, owned by Turkish businessman Mehmet Kutman, said talks were ongoing and that the deadline for the container group to make a firm offer or withdraw is July 13.
Global Ports, which has a presence in the Caribbean, Mediterranean and Asia-Pacific regions, operates 26 cruise ports in 14 countries and also has a commercial port operation specializing in handling containers and general cargo.
