IT IS not easy taking a local company global. Just ask the fresh-faced honcho of Ezra Holdings, a home-grown player in the offshore oil and gas sector that now considers Europe and the United States home as well. Managing director Lionel Lee, 39, relocated to Houston, Texas, in 2010 to oversee the company's integration of Norway's Aker Marine Contractor (AMC) and now splits his time across...

A NUMBER of maritime and offshore stocks have risen strongly so far this year on the back of encouraging economic data from the United States that has eased fears of a global meltdown. Analysts said stocks in this sector had been sold down to very low levels by the end of last month, allowing for a natural rebound. Investors may also have been betting more specifically on better prospects for...

KEPPEL Corporation sent off 2011 with a record full-year net profit attributable to shareholders of $1.49 billion, up a strong 14 per cent from $1.31 billion in 2010. And while it does not expect to streak to another easy record in 2012, the world's top rig builder thinks the coming year augurs well for the oil and gas industry. 'Global demand for oil is projected to continue rising,' said chief...