"While our name may be new, our commitment to excellence remains unwavering," Webjørn Barstad, CEO of Aker QRILL Company.
Photo: Aker QRILL Company.
Last February, Aker BioMarine announced a strategic review of its Feed ingredients division which, in July, materialized in a sale agreement that has valued this division of the company at USD 590 million (EUR 546.5 million). The buyer was a newly created company owned 60% by American Industrial Partners (AIP) and 40% by Aker Capital, another of the Aker Group companies, to which Aker BioMarine also belongs. With the official launch of Aker QRILL Company today, this independent global entity is a reality.
According to the company's release announcing this milestone, this strategic move positions the new company at the forefront of sustainable krill harvesting and as a leading supplier of premium marine ingredients to the aquaculture, animal feed, and nutraceutical industries.
While Aker QRILL Company emphasizes that this transition between companies represents much more than a name change, they also stress that it is based on a strong heritage of innovation and sustainability, now backed by the new ownership of American Industrial Partners and Aker Capital.
This was stated by the CEO of the new company, Webjørn Barstad. "While our name may be new, our commitment to excellence remains unwavering," he said. "We're building upon years of expertise and innovation developed as part of Aker BioMarine, and we're excited to now chart our own course in delivering sustainable, superior krill ingredients with the highest quality standards."
Aker QRILL Company says its mission is clear: "to sustainably harvest Antarctic krill and deliver premium marine ingredients that enhance animals' health, growth, and welfare worldwide." A mission, they stress, backed by a strong commitment to sustainability, rooted in world-class standards, and grounded in rigorous scientific studies on the benefits of krill.
The company's operations span the entire value chain, from harvesting in the waters of Antarctica, through its logistics center in Montevideo (Uruguay), to customers around the world, ensuring full transparency and traceability of its products as it seeks to meet the growing global demand for sustainable marine ingredients.
In the release on the launch of Aker QRILL Company, spokespersons for the new owners, AIP and Aker Capital, also emphasized the new company's commitment to grow while respecting the highest standards of sustainability and continuing the legacy of innovation and quality of its predecessor.
"AIP is proud to partner with Aker QRILL Company and Aker Capital to support further development of the company's position as a leading innovator of advanced and sustainable marine ingredients," said Jeffrey Birenbaum, Partner at American Industrial Partners. "From Aker QRILL Company's high-tech krill harvesting operations to their cutting-edge science and research, AIP sees a strong foundation for further growth to support our customers' ambitions to enhance outcomes in animal, pet, and human health."
"Aker is excited to be a part of this journey, and we've already witnessed a positive impact from the collaboration with AIP," Øyvind Eriksen, President and CEO of Aker, added. "This venture is an important component in our industrial portfolio, and we are committed to support the management as we move into the next phase of growth and innovation."
Matts Johansen, CEO of Aker BioMarine, who until the time of the sale was the head of the company, has also commented on the launch via his LinkedIn profile, noting that they look forward to continuing their close cooperation and shared mission to ensure sustainability in everything they do.
"We're proud to see Aker QRILL Company step forward independently, but still deeply rooted in the values we share. They'll continue to be a vital supplier of krill, delivering high-quality, sustainable products around the world," he writes.
Aker BioMarine, which reached black numbers in February 2023, closed last year with a new growth record. In Q2, the latest in which the Norwegian krill processor and harvester's results include its Feed Ingredients division, its total revenues rose 6%. The division now converted to Aker QRILL Company performed well, with higher revenues - revenue growth was 25% year-on-year (YoY)- and improved underlying margins compared to last year. Offshore krill production was also strong, up 13% YoY in the quarter and 10% YoY for the year. In total, it reached 20,091 t of krill.