London High Court to rule on P&O bid

A High Court judge in London is due to rule on whether a controversial £3.9bn takeover bid for shipping company P&O can go ahead. The move for P&O by Dubai Ports World (DPW), a firm based in the United Arab Emirates, is facing opposition in the US over security concerns.

P&O runs the port operations in US cities including Miami and New York.

Fears have been voiced about the move for P&O by workers at the Ports and complaints from both Republican and Democrat politicians that the US's national security will be compromised.

In an effort to soothe the situation, DPW has agreed to a 45-day review of the security implications. "We consider our company to be a friend of the United States," company executive Michael Moore said earlier this week. DPW has said it is surprised by the concerns the take over bid has risen and plans to continue with the purchase.

Buying P&O would turn DPW into the world's third-largest port operator.

KEY US PORTS OWNED BY P&O
New York, New Jersey, Baltimore, New Orleans, Miami, Philadelphia