The Manitowoc Co. last week completed the previously announced sale of its Marine segment to Fincantieri Marine Group Holdings, a subsidiary of Fincantieri - Cantieri Navali Italiani SpA. The net purchase price in the all-cash deal was approximately $120 million. Manitowoc intends to use the after-tax proceeds for debt reduction and other corporate purposes.

"We are now entirely focused on two strategic lines of business: cranes and commercial foodservice equipment," said Manitowoc CEO Glen Tellock. "We have built market leadership positions in both of these global markets, and now will be able to direct all of our efforts on growing these two businesses even further. While the company was founded as a shipbuilder in 1902, in recent years we have pursued growth in markets where we have stronger competitive positions and opportunities."

In 2007, the Marine segment had sales of $321 million and operating earnings of $26 million. The transaction is expected to generate a 2008 per-share, after-tax gain of approximately $0.60.