Fiskevegn and Mustad Autoline, both internationally recognised names in the longline industry, have agreed to strengthen their co-operation. This follows the purchase of Vetrhus Holding AS (now Mustad Sealine AS) earlier this year by Mustad Autoline, through which Mustad Autoline acquired 50% of the shares in Fiskevegn.
Fiskevegn is a leading manufacturer of longlines and fishing gear, whereas Mustad Autoline is the market leader in mechanised systems for automatic longline fishing. Following the latest agreement, the companies will strengthen their customer/supplier relationships in certain business areas but will remain independent businesses.
The Solheim family will continue to own 50% of Fiskevegn through its company Helge Solheim Holding AS.
Fiskevegn’s chairman, Helge Solheim, welcomes Mustad Autoline as a new 50% owner in the company.
‘We have identified significant synergies between the two companies, although they remain competitors in some segments such as automated equipment for the longline fleet. Mustad Autoline does not have its own longline production and Fiskevegn sees a great potential here. This will further strengthen the positive development that Fiskevegn has seen in recent years,’ Helge Solheim said.
Chairman and owner of Mustad Autoline, Hans H. Mustad commented that he is also looking forward to the closer co-operation.
‘We have always had great respect for Fiskevegn as a company and the high quality of products they manufacture. We believe there are significant opportunities in expanding manufacturing and product development at Flatraket and we look forward to being able to offer Fiskevegn longlines to our customers.’
Fiskevegn is based at Flatraket in western Norway and has a staff of 47. The company has a sales department in Ålesund, owns BFG in Flatraket and holds a 50% share in SIA Magistr-Fiskevegn Group in Latvia.
In addition, the company has a US distributor in Seattle, is represented in New Zealand by its Christchurch branch and also has outlets at Nuuk in Greenland and St Johns in Canada.
Mustad Autoline has a staff of 58 and its head office and factory at Gjøvik in eastern Norway with a sales office in Ålesund and has sales companies in Seattle and Newfoundland, as well as the subsidiary Mustad Havservice AS (Ålesund) that supplies coastal fisheries from divisions in Ålesund, Båtsfjord, Myre and Austevoll.
