Norway’s Fred Olsen & Co is bringing to an end 119 years of separate operations for its holding companies Bonheur and Ganger Rolf after it announced a merger.

The two Oslo-listed owners of the venerable shipping group’s assets could be combined as early as May if shareholders back the move.

Bonheur said this week the merger was being pursued to provide “a more transparent and accessible corporate structure which may yield capital and operational efficiencies”.

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