Danish shipping company, Norden, has agreed to acquire its compatriot Thorco Projects business expanding its reach to the general cargo segment, especially breakbulk, steels and wind industry project cargo. If all the regulatory conditions are met, the acquisition will close in the third quarter of the year. 

Norden says that the acquisition is in line with its light business model, due to the fact that Thorco Projects has in recent years transformed into an asset light business operating a chartered fleet of predominantly handysize vessels. The acquisition therefore will contribute positively to margins in Norden’s Freight Services & Trading business unit.

“We look forward to welcoming the Thorco Projects team into Norden and offer customers an enhanced global service across all non-containerised cargo types,” says Norden CEO Jan Rindbo. “With the tonnage and business tools we have available in Norden, we see significant potential to further grow the Thorco Projects business under the Norden brand,” he adds.

Banking on synergy

As Norden already said, with the acquisition of the Thorco Projects business, it further grows its customer offering, as Thorco Projects operate within specialist general cargo segments such as breakbulk, steel and wind energy related cargoes, where multiple cargo parcels from different customers typically are combined into single shipments on multipurpose and handysize ships. Operating a chartered fleet of 30-40 vessels, the Thorco Projects team brings substantial relations, skills and know-how necessary to operate a specialised general cargo business.

“We look forward to developing our cooperation with our customers, both current and future,” says Thomas Mikkelsen, CEO Thorco Projects. “We also welcome this opportunity to grow our collaboration with Norden, who we believe can further strengthen and grow the projects business.”

There are numerous commercial synergies between the two businesses, including an overlap in Thorco Projects’ fronthaul routes and Norden’s backhaul routes, creating the opportunity for trading route optimisation, which also will reduce supply chain emissions for customers.