Singapore-based Wilhelmsen Ship Management and asset manager MPC Capital jointly acquire 100% of Zeaborn Ship Management.
The partnership will be strengthened by the expansion of an integrated third-party ship management hub with a wide range of services for container ships, bulk carriers, tankers and multipurpose vessels.
The transaction creates a ship management hub anchored in Hamburg.
Zeaborn manages a fleet of around 100 vessels, comprising of container ships and bulkers as well as tankers and multi-purpose vessels, which are managed from offices in Hamburg, Limassol, Singapore and Manila.
After the integration of Zeaborn, the combined activities will continue to operate under the brand names of Wilhelmsen Ahrenkiel and Barber.
The joint activities will be co-headed by Managing Directors Dr. Michael Silies and Michael Brandhoff. Michael Silies has been with MPC Capital since 2003 and has headed their ship management activities since 2015. Michael Brandhoff has been Managing Director of Zeaborn since 2017.
The expanded joint ship management activities of Wilhelmsen and MPC Capital will continue to be managed from Hamburg with more than 150 vessels in technical management.
Carl Schou, chief executive and president of Wilhelmsen Ship Management, said: “The acquisition of Zeaborn is our strategic move to expand and strengthen our market presence in the ship management arena. The transaction will increase our vessels in management to a size that we are confident that we can continue to deliver the best ship management services to our existing and future customers.”
Ulf Holländer, chief executive of MPC Capital, said: “As a Hamburg-based company with an outstanding track record in shipping activities we feel many overlaps in tradition and values with the Wilhelmsen group as our partner. As such, we are excited to grow our ship management platform. With the integration of Zeaborn’s complementary client base and services we further strengthen our market position in the ship management business.”
The closing of the transaction is expected for Q1 2024 and is subject to approval by the relevant antitrust authorities.
