SYDNEY, July 23 (Reuters) - Adsteam Marine Ltd. (Australia:ADZ.AX) said
on Friday its 55 percent-owned Northland Fuel has signed an agreement to
sell its Alaskan fuel distribution business, the final step in the
Australia firm's plan to sell non-core assets.
Adsteam, which has been restructuring to reduce
costs and focus on shipping services, said proceeds from the sale of the
fuel business to Crowley Marine Services and the remaining Northland
real estate assets up for sale would be worth around their balance sheet
value of A$56 million ($40 million).
The funds would be used to reduce debt. "This is the final step in
our plan to divest non-core businesses, announced in May 2003 as part of
the company's business transformation program," Adsteam said.
"The business transformation program is delivering a fit business so
we can focus on where future ship assist opportunities might arise."
Crowley Marine is a subsidiary of Oakland, California-based Crowley
Maritime Corp. (Other OTC:CWLM). The sale is conditional on a U.S.
federal antitrust review period and on court approval.
Shares in Adsteam were up 2 percent at A$1.50 by 11:33 a.m. (0134
GMT). The stock has underperformed the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index (Australia:AXJO)
by about 14 percent this calendar year. ($1=A$1.39)