Thai Union Calls Off Acquisition of Bumble Bee After DOJ Raises Anti-Trust Objections
Thai Union will not go ahead with its proposed plan to acquire Bumble Bee Seafoods after the US Justice Department determined the deal raises anti-competitive concerns. The decision means Thai Union will not sell its Chicken of the Sea brand as was part of the Bumble Bee deal. Thai Union said it will still pursue its goal of hitting $8 billion in revenue by 2020. "We will have cash to buy other companies," said Thai Union’s CEO Thiraphong Chansiri . "This will help us reach the 2020 target."
California lawmakers heard of the grim situation surrounding the state’s shuttered commercial Dungeness crab season over high levels of domoic acid. The concentrations of the toxin are 10 to 30 times above the level considered toxic state health officials said during the Senate meeting. Owners of some California seafood distributors were also in attendance and reported of the financial impacts they expect to incur from the closure of the fishery, which is responsible for $60 to $95 million in business each year.
In other news major German Pollock buyer Pickenpack has filed for voluntary bankruptcy in Germany, after part-owner Pacific Andes reportedly stopped paying its invoices. According to John Sackton it is unlikely that the bankruptcy will impact current supermarket contracts for pollock, as with new financing, the money is there to pay for the product. However, the mechanisms to allow Pickenpack to continue its sales operations will be up to a court appointed administrator.
Meanwhile, Russia may ban trading with Turkey in a move that threatens about 20 percent of Russia’s imported chilled fish. The ban would mostly affect Russia’s access to Turkish sea bass, bream and rainbow trout. The ban would be an extension of existing trade embargoes Russia has against the EU, US and other nations that have been in place since 2014.
Finally, leading Alaskan salmon researcher and fishery economist Gunnar Knapp said he will retire from his post at the University of Alaska in June. Knapp is the current director of the University's Institute of Social and Economic Research and has been with the University for over three decades. "I feel immensely lucky at the opportunities I have had to work with so many talented and dedicated colleagues, to study so many fascinating and important issues, and to spend the final three years of my career as Director. I can't imagine a more interesting and rewarding career than studying and teaching about Alaska's resources, economy and society,” Knapp said.
Have a great weekend.
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