Optilice maker bought by German equity company
Optimar, maker of the Optilice mechanical delouser and other machinery used in fish farming, has been bought by German family-owned equity company Franz Haniel & Cie. GmbH from Norwegian financial investors Credo Partnersand the company’s management for an undisclosed sum.
The current management team led by chief executive Håvard Sætre will remain in charge of the Ålesund-based firm which has grown strongly over the last two years and is expected to generate a revenue of around €115 million in 2017.
Optimar, which has about 350 employees, is a leading producer of high-quality, automated fish handling systems on ships, on land and at fish farms.
Sætre said: “This is a milestone for us. Haniel’s many years of experience in developing companies will support and accelerate our growth."
He added: "We are very pleased to see that the headquarters will remain in Ålesund. We will continue to have the same focus for large as for small projects around the world.”
The company currently has additional production locations in Norway, US, Spain and Romania, and has supplied international customers in the fishery industry and fish farm operators in more than 30 countries.
