Investors bringing in NOK 300 million in new funds to the company.
Hurtigruten and its owners, Petter A. Stordalen and TDR, will be the largest partner in the newly established company, with a 40% share. Of its current owners, John Kleven AS and H-Invest AS are bringing new funds to the company. In addition, the group of investors consists of Åge Remøy and Magnus Roth’s InYard Invest, Lürssen-Group, and Per Lillebø.
“It has been important for us to bring in new investors with an industrial, long term perspective, and with a shared ambition to further develop Kleven to be a world leading shipbuilding group,” said Kjersti Kleven, Chair of the Board of Kleven.
Kleven is currently building the world’s most environmentally friendly expedition vessels – hybrid powered MS Roald Amundsen and MS Fridtjof Nansen for Hurtigruten.
“Kleven was the best candidate for building our new expedition vessels. This shows that the shipbuilding group is world class. Now we are strengthening Kleven, the region and Norwegian shipbuilding industry for the future and this permits further growth,” said CEO of Hurtigruten, Daniel Skjeldam.
In addition to being one of the new investors, Lürssen – one of the world’s leading companies for design and building of superyachts - earlier this year also entered into a longterm cooperation agreement with Kleven.
“We are pleased to see the interest there has been in investing in Kleven. This is a solid and longterm solution, creating opportunities for new and innovative projects,” said CEO of Kleven, Ståle Rasmussen.
The refinancing process is now close to completed, with some formal conditions pending, including final approval from the company’s banks and GIEK.