PSA said to show interest in port operator Wilson Sons

PSA International, the port operator owned by Singapore state investor Temasek Holdings, has shown interest in acquiring Wilson Sons, a Brazilian port and maritime logistics company, according to sources familiar with the matter.

Potential buyers in China also have shown interest, said the sources, asking not to be identified because the matter is private.

Wilson Sons’ controlling shareholder, Ocean Wilsons Holdings, said in June it was conducting a strategic review of its investment. In November, Bermuda-based Ocean Wilsons said its adviser, Banco BTG Pactual, had received a series of non-binding indicative offers for the stake.

London-listed Ocean Wilsons owns 57 per cent of Wilson Sons, according to the Brazilian company’s website.

A spokesperson for PSA declined to comment. Representatives of Ocean Wilsons and Wilson Sons did not reply to requests for comment.

Wilson Sons rose 3.8 per cent to 16.85 reais as at 10.34 am in Sao Paulo, giving the company a market value of 7.4 billion reais (S$2 billion). Shares in Wilson Sons have gained 58 per cent in the past year. BLOOMBERG