Rederiet Red Funnel, som sejler mellem Southampton og Isle of Wight, er den 29. september blevet solgt til den britiske kapitalfond Njord Partners. Det nyoprettede lokale rederi Vectis Ferries har også de seneste 10 uger forsøgt at købe Red Funnel. Bag Vectis Ferries står bl.a. tidligere direktører i Red Funnel.
“Red Funnel is a vital part of the Isle of Wight’s economy and community—a true backbone of the Solent and South UK region. This is a great company with a proud history and a dedicated management team at its core. We are excited to support Red Funnel’s next chapter, restoring its financial health and empowering its people to deliver the reliable, efficient service that islanders and visitors deserve.”
Jakob Kjellberg, Founding Partner at Njord Partners
Red Funnel har siden 2017 været ejer af pensionskasser fra Storbritannien og Canada, men har været i økonomiske problemer de sidste 5 år. Hvis de ikke havde fundet en køber senest d. 30. september, ville det være meget kritisk for rederiet, da långiver så kunne kræve deres lån tilbagebetalt, hvilket rederiet ikke havde penge til.
“Our priority is to ensure Red Funnel operates sustainably and responsibly for decades to come, delivering high-quality, reliable, and friendly services across the Solent. We are delighted to partner with Njord Partners as Red Funnel enters this new chapter. Their milestone commitment gives us the confidence and platform to support our ambitious future plans.”
Fran Collins, CEO at Red Funnel.
Kilder: Njord Partners og Shippax
