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Louis expands activities in cruise sector

21/08/2006 13:25
According to an announcement released on Monday, Louis signed a franchise agreement with “easyCruise”, established by Mr. Stelios Hadjiioannou, founder of easyGroup Group of Companies. According to the agreement and under certain conditions that concern the purchase and management of ships in Eastern Mediterranean (including Greece), Louis plc will be the franchisee of “easyCruise” in the area and will have the right to use www.easyCruise.com., a sales web page.

Specifically, “Louis and easyCruise will approach the “Neorion” Greek Dockyards to increase the number of ships, pursuant to the “Intention Letter”, which provides for the shipbuilding of two cruise ships with the option of increasing the number to four. The differentiation that will be pursued is to increase the number of cruise ships to three, with the option of three more. The additional ships will be ordered by Louis”.

“Louis will have the option to use either new ships that will be constructed pursuant to the specifications of easyCruise or the existing ships that will be upgraded to meet the said specifications. EasyCruise will be actively involved in the area until the termination of the operation of the first ship of Louis plc under its trade name”, the announcement added.

Same announcement reported that “Chairman of easyCruise, Stelios Hadjiioannou said that easyCruise not only will be benefited by the experience and know-how of Louis but it will have the opportunity to develop rapidly via the larger number of ships that will be ordered, covering a wider geographical area earlier than scheduled. If the Company orders all ships, the total number of ships that will operate under easyCruise by 2010-2011 will reach 8”.

“Louis Executive Chairman, Costakis Loizou, expressed his content for the agreement, which will expand the activities of Louis Cruise Lines to a new type of cruises, addressed to younger people. This expansion is carried out in strategic cooperation with easyGroup and its founder, Mr. Stelios Hadjiioannou, a capable businessman with successful activities in a wide range of activities”, the announcement concluded.

According to a Louis representative, the Company will pay a small amount to EasyCruise, which will be based on the turnover. The cooperation is expected to contribute positively to the Company, although the latter has not specified the benefit yet.