Investor buys half of fish health company Åkerblå
Seafood investor Broodstock Capital has bought a 50% stake in fish health company Åkerblå, which operates in Canada, Iceland and Spain as well as its home market of Norway.
The deal makes NOK20 million (£1.8m) available to Åkerblå, which chief executive Roger Sørensen would be invested in competence, R&D and system improvements.
“Amongst other things, we want do digitalise even more of our services, which will make our clients’ data even more accessible to them,” said Sørensen.
New markets
The company also wants to expand internationally.
“Åkerblå’s competence and systems are transferable to other aquaculture markets. Our ambition is to develop the world’s leading competence hub for knowledge-based marine health services,” said Broodstock Capital partner Håkon Aglen Fredriksen.
“Broodstock Capital has significant international activity through our portfolio companies. We anticipate that Åkerblå will capitalise on this network to fast-track entry into new markets and further strengthen its position in countries already present.”
Fish farming companies
Åkerblå provides consulting and certification services within fish health, environment and technical operations, primarily for fish farming companies. It also provides services to operators of wellboats and service vessels, pharmaceutical companies, and institutions within research and education, as well as public sector bodies.
It is the only company in the world with accreditation status for control of fish health, and the only player in Norway with accreditation status for both fish health control, environmental surveys and technical services.
In addition to its investment in Åkerblå, Broodstock Capital has invested in Multi Pump Innovation (MPI), which makes the Racemaster net cleaning robot; recirculating aquaculture system supplier Billund Aquaculture AS; seafood software company Maritech Systems AS; and water treatment company NP Innovation AB.
