Soon-to-merge dry cargo shipbroker Ifchor and tanker and sale-and-purchase specialist Galbraiths appear to be a natural fit strategically but questions are being asked if they will be able to bring their different corporate cultures together.

Reacting to what must rank among the worst-kept broker merger secrets, shipping market players were quick to credit both shops for making a logical step to pool their specialisms and create a larger shipbroking entity.