Vinci Energies signed an agreement on 7 October to acquire the Dutch companies RH Marine and Bakker Sliedrecht. With this transaction, Vinci Energies gains market position in the maritime sector in the Netherlands and strengthens its industrial portfolio.
RH Marine and Bakker Sliedrecht have already been working closely together since 2018. In early 2022, both were sold to management through a management buyout and have been under the leadership of Hugo Loudon and Stefan Braat since then. The two companies have more than 620 employees and an annual revenue of around EUR 160 million.
Also read: Bakker equips Boskalis vessels with energy storage
Defence and superyachts
RH Marine stems from the maritime division of Imtech. Today, it is a major system integrator and a leader in the field of defence vessels and superyachts. The company was originally founded in 1860 and provides engineering and integrates tailored solutions for automation and electrical systems in the maritime industry. With its high-end expertise and experience, RH Marine offers innovative solutions for all ship support platform systems in the market.
For example, the company will be involved in the platform automation and parts of the power supply system of the four new Dutch submarines. In addition, RH Marine will supply the Integrated Mission Management System (IMMS), the Integrated Navigation Bridge System (INBS) and the Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS) for each of the four Anti-Submarine Warfare Frigates for the Dutch and Belgian navies.
Also read: RH Marine enlisted as first Dutch supplier for new ASW frigates
Dredging and offshore
Since its founding in 1919, Bakker Sliedrecht has developed into an electrical and automation integrator that designs, installs, and maintains electrical installations in the dredging, offshore, maritime and land-based industries. Bakker Sliedrecht provides sustainable solutions that prepare the maritime fleet for the future.
Recent orders the company won include supplying an electric DC-grid, plug-in hybrid power plant for Jan De Nul Group’s first plug-in hybrid trailing suction hopper dredger and energy storage systems for some of Boskalis’ vessels.
Also read: Bakker Sliedrecht to equip Jan De Nul’s hybrid dredger
Expanding into the maritime sector
‘In joining Vinci Energies, both RH Marine and Bakker Sliedrecht will be better positioned to support our clients even more with innovative, qualitative and sustainable solutions,’ says Hugo Loudon, Managing Director RH Marine. ‘Moreover, Vinci Energies is an inspiring organisation with a culture that fits well with our way of working. A good workplace where our employees can continue to develop further.’
Jos van Uden, Managing Director Vinci Energies NL, adds: ‘The activities of both companies are complementary
to the Vinci Energies portfolio, a welcome addition that further expands our market position into the maritime sector. The knowledge and expertise have a lot of similarities with the services of our business units focusing on industry. I see many opportunities for cooperation and knowledge sharing. With great pleasure I welcome RH Marine and Bakker Sliedrecht and their employees to our organisation.’
The transaction will be submitted to the Authority for Consumers & Markets (ACM) and is expected to be completed in Q4 2024.
Picture: Artist impression of the Anti-Submarine Warfare Frigate for which RH Marine will supply multiple systems (photo by Damen Naval).
