A WOMAN walks by the Berlin office of TUI AG, Europe’s largest travel company and owner of the Hapag-Lloyd shipping line, in this file photo. The company said earnings rose by nearly half last year due to improvements from both its tourism and marine divisions. --Bloomberg

DUSSELDORF—TUI AG, Europe’s largest travel company and owner of the Hapag-Lloyd shipping line, said profit gained 47 percent in 2007 on improvements at both its tourism and marine divisions.

Earnings from continuing activities climbed to €616 million ($936 million) in adjusted terms before interest, taxes and amortization, from €419 million in 2006, the Hanover, Germany-based company said Wednesday in a statement. Sales advanced 7 percent to €21.9 billion. TUI gained 4.4 percent in Frankfurt trading, the most since February 6.

Revenue is rising in the tourism industry as more people take vacations in foreign countries. TUI Travel Plc., the German company’s tour unit, said separately Wednesday sales met its forecast in the second quarter through December. Annual profit climbed almost 14 percent at the travel division, owner of the Thomson brand, and more than doubled at Hapag-Lloyd.

“The figures are higher than expected,’’ said Martina Noss, an analyst at Norddeutsche Landesbank in Hanover who has a “hold’’ recommendation on the stock. “The positive trend in tourism and container shipping continued in the fourth quarter.’’

Adjusted Ebita at TUI’s tourism unit rose to €449 million as sales advanced 11 percent to €15.6 billion. At the shipping division, earnings climbed to €197 million on a 1 percent drop in sales to €6.2 billion.

TUI added 69 cents to €16.26, leading advances in the 30-member benchmark DAX Index. TUI Travel, which also said it’s on schedule to meet goals for the fiscal year through September, added 2.25 pence, or 0.9 percent, to 263.25 pence in London.

Managers have not reached a decision on combining Hapag-Lloyd with TUI, company spokesman Robin Zimmermann said by telephone. He spoke after the Financial Times Deutschland reported Wednesday that the merger plan had been scrapped.

Zimmerman declined to comment on a separate report by Dow Jones that talks between TUI and Singapore’s Neptune Orient Lines on a possible combination that would form one of the world’s biggest container-shipping companies have almost failed.

The news agency cited unnamed people.

TUI, which sponsors hometown soccer team Hannover 96 to help keep its brand in the public eye, is scheduled to release final annual figures on March 18. (Bloomberg)

Danish liner may employ local seafarers

A DANISH shipping line may employ Filipino seafarers to help manage its new vessels as long as they comply with the company’s requirements. 

SEOUL—Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co., the world’s third-largest shipbuilder, posted its smallest profit in a year in the fourth quarter as the company lost a bet the won would strengthen.

DUSSELDORF—TUI AG, Europe’s largest travel company and owner of the Hapag-Lloyd shipping line, said profit gained 47 percent in 2007 on improvements at both its tourism and marine divisions.

BRUSSELS—The European Union (EU) plans to push this year for curbs on ship emissions linked to climate change, broadening a crackdown that already targets the energy, manufacturing, airline and car industries.

HONG KONG—Orient Overseas (International) Ltd., Hong Kong’s largest container line, fell the most in a month after it failed to propose another special dividend from the sale of container terminals.