A consortium led by UK investment company STAR Capital has finalized the purchase of V.Group, a shipmanagement conglomerate based in London. The new ownership group also includes Dutch holding company Ackermans & van Haaren (AvH), which is the majority owner of dredging giant DEME.
Rene Kofod-Olsen, CEO of V.Group, expressed excitement about the ownership change and welcomed the new investors with deep shipping sector experience. He believes that this transaction will enhance V.Group’s capabilities and enable them to expedite investments in the future.
As the largest third-party shipmanagement company, V.Group offers a wide range of shipping services such as technical management, crewing, catering, agency services, and marine insurance. With a global network of 60 offices in 30 countries, the company serves clients worldwide.
According to Aditya Bindal, Partner at STAR, V.Group aligns well with their investment strategy due to its strong brand and leading position in a fragmented market. He believes that V.Group is well-positioned to provide top-notch technical management and marine services to fleet owners and operators, especially those transitioning to outsourced services.
The acquisition of V.Group from U.S.-based private equity company Advent International is still pending regulatory review and is expected to be finalized by fall
