Norwegian fish processing systems supplier Optimar has been acquired by an Icelandic investor. This is Kaldbakur, an investment vehicle owned by the families of two of the founders of fishing and processing company Samherji.
The acquisition of Optimar International has taken place following negotiations between Kaldbakur and outgoing owner, German investment company Franz Haniel & Cie, which has been Optimar’s owner since 2017.
‘This is a bit like coming home for Optimar,’ the company’s CEO Georg Saint-Denis commented.
‘The companies know each other well through a long and good collaboration and see this as a strategic turning point for Optimar.’
Optimar will continue to operate as an independent entiry. Based on Valderøya just outside Ålesund and with a staff of 260, it is a prominent supplier of processing systems for use on board fishing vessels, at land-based plants, and in aquaculture. It has branches in Norway, Spain, Romania, and the USA. The company has had a troubled history with a number of changes of ownership over the years.
‘Optimar is a reliable, long-term partner for the global fishing industry with strong customer relationships. We are excited about the opportunities our partnership will bring to both Optimar and our broader portfolio,’ said Kaldbakur CEO Eiríkur S. Jóhannsson.
Kaldbakur also has investments in REM Offshore AS, Hagar hf., Slippurinn Akureyri ehf., Iceland Drilling hf., Sjóvá hf., and Bergfrost p/f.
