IK Investment Partners to partner with the founders of global offshore specialist Ampelmann
Funds managed by IK Investment Partners (“IK”) are to acquire a majority stake in Ampelmann, a Dutch-based leading supplier of Motion Compensated Gangway (MCG) systems to the offshore energy sector, from its founders. Financial details for the transaction were not disclosed.
Headquartered in Delft, the Netherlands, the company is the leading supplier of MCG systems for the offshore oil and gas, and wind power industries.
The company’s unique MCG technology actively compensates for the six degrees of motion caused by waves during transfers from vessels to fixed structures and between vessels at sea. It ensures efficient and safe transport of personnel, and it can be used without the need for a specific docking device. The increased use of MCG systems is changing the way that companies perform maintenance offshore.
Ampelmann develops, engineers, assembles, rents and operates the MCG system. The market it operates in is driven by demand for regular maintenance of offshore structures and is therefore a stable, non-cyclical end market whilst the number of transfers offshore is growing.
IK’s investment will give Ampelmann the ability to expand further among its existing client base in the North Sea and will also allow it to increase penetration in overseas markets, for example in the Middle East, Brazil, Australia and Asia.
Jan van der Tempel, Ampelmann Founder and CEO, said: “We have been focused on developing the MCG technology since 2002 and we are proud of the growth trajectory and the strong track record we achieved so far. At the same time, we recognise the need for a strong partner to support us in further developing and institutionalising our business. IK will help us realise the tremendous potential, building Ampelmann into a global leader.”
Remko Hilhorst, Partner at IK Investment Partners, said: “Ampelmann’s MCG systems are the most advanced in the world and are changing the way the offshore industry carries out maintenance. By strengthening Ampelmann’s share capital, IK will support the company’s development further. We are looking forward to working with the management team whose talent and vision created the market leading technology behind MCG.”
For further questions contact:
IK Investment Partners
Remko Hilhorst, Partner
Phone: +44 207 304 4300
About IK Investment Partners
IK Investment Partners (“IK”) is a Pan-European private equity firm focused on investments in three regions; the Nordics, Germany/CEE and France Benelux. Since 1989, IK Funds has invested approximately €5.6 billion in over 80 European companies. IK Funds invests with the management of mid-sized companies that have strong improvement potential, operating in the business services, care, industrial goods and consumer goods sectors. The current portfolio comprises 23 companies. For more information visit: www.ikinvest.com
About Ampelmann
Ampelmann is a high-tech offshore company focusing on development, construction and lease of offshore access solutions. The company was founded in 2008 as a spin-off of the Delft University of Technology. The core technology is the Ampelmann system, a motion compensation platform that allows easy, fast and safe access from a moving vessel to offshore structures, even in high wave conditions. With a doubling of the fleet every year since 2008, Ampelmann currently operates over 20 systems world-wide transferring offshore crew from various types of vessels to offshore oil & gas platforms, offshore turbines, FPSO’s and all other fixed and floating structures at sea. For more information visit: www.ampelmann.nl