GL employees likely to oppose merger bid

Fairplay reports that the takeover offer for German classification society Germanischer Lloyd (GL) by its larger French rival Bureau Veritas (BV) is likely to face strong opposition from GL’s employees’ council. Speaking soon after news of the bid had been confirmed, the council’s deputy chairman Ingo Klauke said his members regarded the move as “hostile”, adding that there was concern for jobs and the council was devising a defence strategy. Klauke said he understands a decision on the offer, which is valued at about 200 million euros ($256 million), has to be taken by December 20.