CP Ships Completes Acquisition

CP Ships Limited completed its acquisition of all issued and outstanding shares in Italia di Navigazione from d'Amico Societa di Navigazione S.p.A. for $40 million in cash. The acquisition was announced on May 30, 2002. As previously announced, the purchase is being paid for with proceeds from CP Ships' offering in July 2002 of 9.6 million common shares and private placement of $200 million of senior unsecured notes. "We are pleased to welcome Italia as CP Ships' seventh brand," commented CP Ships' CEO Ray Miles. "By purchasing Italia CP Ships continues its strategy of making acquisitions to reinforce our regional leadership position, build trade lane economies of scale and create new opportunities for growth. Plans are already in place to strengthen Italia's services and build on the service cooperation that already exists between Italia and other CP Ships brands." Italia's new board of directors is chaired by Frank Halliwell, Chief Operating Officer of CP Ships. Pietro Eugeni continues as managing director.