Finnish Rettig Group Ltd. is divesting its RoRo shipping company Bore Ltd. to the Dutch shipping company Spliethoff’s Bevrachtingskantoor B.V..
All activities of the Bore business will transfer to Spliethoff, including all of Bore’s employees, Bore’s entire fleet of nine RoRo vessels and the strong Bore brand. The 24.8 per cent holding in Försäkringsaktiebolaget Alandia is not included in the transaction and remains within Rettig Group.
Ro-Ro Cargo Ship BORE SEA - Image: Bernard GRUAU
The all-cash deal is expected to close on 30 June 2016 and does not require any approval by competition authorities.
After the successful restructuring programme in 2014-2015 Bore focuses on the Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo) segment. The nine RoRo vessels are chartered to line operators that transport cargo in the North Sea, the Baltic Sea, the Mediterranean and the Caribbean.
The Spliethoff group operates a fleet of over 100 vessels worldwide. Finnish RoRo line operator Transfennica is part of the Spliethoff Group since 2002.
”This is an interesting next step in the development of Bore. Bore will become part of a bigger shipping company that also has long traditions in shipping. In addition, the divestment gives Rettig Group improved flexibility to develop existing businesses within the Group or to diversify into entirely new businesses where Rettig Group can add value as a long-term owner”, said Tomas von Rettig, President and CEO of Rettig Group.
”The approach by Spliethoff is an acknowledgement of our recent achievements. We have shown to all stakeholders the strength of the Bore brand manifested through our fleet of nine RoRo vessels with competent and motivated crew, both onboard and ashore. Becoming part of the pure shipping company Spliethoff, Bore will be able to develop the fleet and business to meet future challenges within the tough shipping market”, said Håkan Modig, CEO of Bore.
”Over the last years, the RoRo segment has become an important part of the Spliethoff Group activities via group member Transfennica, which offers fast scheduled liner services between the Continent and Finland with short transit times. With Bore joining our group we can further strengthen our position in this part of the market and develop new opportunities”, said Michael van den Heuvel, CCO of the Spliethoff Group.
”With Bore we aquired a company that is complementary to our existing business. We welcome the Bore employees in the Spliethoff Group and are confident the Bore business will prosper within our Group. As Spliethoff we are always looking for possibilities to grow in our existing markets and Bore was clearly one of these possibilities”, said Michel Fransen, CFO of the Spliethoff Group.
Source: Rettig