Molslinjen and Torghatten merger to create a pan-Nordic ferry operator

Molslinjen and Torghatten merger to create a pan-Nordic ferry operator

• Molslinjen and Torghatten will continue to operate independently under their existing brands, and Carsten Jensen, currently serving as CEO Molslinjen, is appointed CEO of NFI
• EQT Infrastructure will continue to invest significantly in the decarbonization and electrifcation of NFI’s combined ferry fleet to reach long-term targets towards net zero emissions

(PRESS RELEASE) STOCKHOLM, 21-Dec-2022 — /EuropaWire/ — EQT, a purpose-driven global investment organization, has announced that its EQT Infrastructure fund will form the Nordic Ferry Infrastructure (“NFI”) by merging the two ferry operators Molslinjen, Denmark’s largest passenger ferry company, and Torghatten, the leading private passenger transportation company in Norway. Following the merger of the two companies the newly launched NFI will essentially become a pan-Nordic ferry operator with a well-diversified portfolio of over 65 routes operated by over 100 vessels and transporting over 16 million passengers annually. EQT Infrastructure acquired the ferry transportation companies Molslinjen and Torghatten in February and March 2021 respectively. The two ferry operators provide essential transportation services in their respective regions, linking major population centers, islands to mainland, and coastal communities, creating a Nordic route network of floating bridges.

Molslinjen and Torghatten will continue to operate independently under their existing names and brands, but with close collaboration through selected centralized functions and with a group executive management team. NFI will be headquartered in Oslo, Norway, and Carsten Jensen, currently CEO of Molslinjen, will be appointed new group CEO

Carl Sjölund, Partner within EQT Infrastructure’s Investment Advisory team, said, “Combining Molslinjen and Torghatten will allow us to accelerate platform-wide digitalization efforts and facilitate the roll-out of new commercial and operational excellence initiatives. As we are now embarking on the next phase on this exciting journey, EQT Infrastructure is proud to invest in the continued decarbonization of the companies’ fleets to further reduce the environmental footprint of ferry transportation across the Nordic seas”.

The launch of NFI comes just weeks after the add-on acquisition of ForSea, an operator of electrified ferries between Helsingborg and Helsingør, across the strait of Öresund, which will add seven million transported passengers, annually.

Contact
EQT Press Office, press@eqtpartners.com, +46 8 506 55 334

About EQT
EQT is a purpose-driven global investment organization with EUR 114 billion in assets under management within two business segments – Private Capital and Real Assets. EQT owns portfolio companies and assets in Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Americas and supports them in achieving sustainable growth, operational excellence and market leadership.

More info: www.eqtgroup.com
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About Torghatten
Torghatten, founded in 1878, is the leading private passenger transportation company in Norway, providing essential ferry and express boat infrastructure with its “floating bridge” route network making a critical part of the country’s domestic transportation system. Torghatten’s fleet consists of 92 car ferries and smaller passenger ferries operating on 59 different connections in Norway, typically under medium to long term contracts with public transportation authorities. Torghatten transports over 8 million passengers per year.

More info:www.torghatten.no

About Molslinjen
Molslinjen, founded in 1963, is Denmark’s largest passenger ferry company and a critical part of Denmark’s transportation infrastructure, linking Denmark’s major population centers and connecting several important islands with the mainland. Molslinjen’s fleet consists of 15 vessels connecting 9 routes, including connections to Sweden and Germany. It operates a young, modern, and fit-for-purpose fleet under long-term concession agreements as well as on a commercial basis as the sole operator with high barriers to entry. Molslinjen transports over 8 million passengers per year.

More info: www.molslinjen.dk

SOURCE: EQT AB