A.P. Moller-Maersk has reached an agreement with A.P. Moller Holding, the parent company of the A.P. Moller Group, for an intended divestment of Maersk Supply Service (MSS). MSS provides global offshore marine services and project solutions for the energy sector.
‘We are very pleased to see Maersk Supply Service will be able to continue to further develop new solutions for the green transition of the offshore sector under a new long-term ownership,’ says Patrick Jany, CFO at Maersk. ‘This transaction validates the excellent work done by the team in the last years. At the same time, it marks the completion of our initial decision to divest all energy related activities and focus on truly integrated logistics.’
Also read: Maersk and MSC’s 2M alliance comes to an end
Divestment of energy related services
In 2016, Maersk adopted its new strategy around integrated logistics and a separation of the existing energy related activities was initiated. Maersk Tankers, Maersk Oil & Gas and Maersk Drilling were divested in the period 2017-2019. With the intended sale of MSS, announced on 20 March, the final divestment of the energy related activities will be completed.
‘The capabilities and vessels Maersk Supply Service have built over more than fifty years supporting the oil and gas energy industry are much needed within offshore renewable energy, especially in the wind industry. As new owners we will drive a transition of MSS to over time become a leading offshore marine company servicing the offshore wind industry. At the same time, we are pleased that this concludes the separation of energy related activities from A.P. Moller–Maersk as initiated in 2016,’ states Martin Larsen, CFO at A.P. Moller Holding.
New wind installation vessel
Maersk Supply Service will continue trading under its current name and will be using the Maersk seven-pointed star logo as part of its brand.
The transaction includes a pioneering wind installation vessel, which when finalised will establish MSS as a leading offshore wind contractor.
As the transaction is between related parties, a fairness opinion has been obtained from DNB Bank ASA. The fairness opinion confirms that the transaction value is fair from a financial point of view.
Also read: Maersk signs another green methanol partnership
About the transaction
The value of the transaction is USD 685 million (enterprise value), reflecting an EV/EBITDA multiple of 27.4x based on EBITDA for full-year 2022. Until obtaining all required regulatory approvals and closing of the transaction, Maersk Supply Service will remain a subsidiary of A.P. Moller–Maersk A/S and run the business independently as usual.
Also read: Maersk Supply Service awarded North Sea decommissioning contract
