Smir acquires KB Group
Smir Group LinkedIn profile
The Smir Group has acquired the service and diving company KB-Gruppen. Through a LinkedIn post, the aquaculture technology and service provider indicated that this acquisition is of "strategic importance" for the investment in submersible pen systems, and will strengthen the capacity and flexibility of its fleet.
Consequently, the service vessel KB Rokk and the high-speed diving vessel KB Storm, both measuring 24 meters in length, now belong to the Smir group. The same happens with the crew and management team, led by founder and CEO Ola Krystad.
Regarding the announcement, Are Brekk, general manager of the Smir Group's shipping business Hydro Shipping, which, like KB-Gruppen, is located in Rørvik in Nærøysund municipality, said: "KB-Gruppen has over 20 years of experience from a wide range of diving and service operations along the entire Norwegian coast. The acquisition also strengthens both capacity and flexibility in our fleet."
"Smir sees this as particularly important in connection with the Group's focus on submersible cage solutions, and that more and more fish farmers want to use this technology," he added.
The Smir Group is located in Langevåg near Ålesund and has branches in Bjugn, Trondheim, and Rørvik. The group is owned by Odd-Einar Grøntvedt and Frank Øren, who have collaborated with a local bank on financing the acquisition.
The Smir Group is known for its technologies within delousing, feeding systems, and cage solutions, in addition to operational and vessel services to the aquaculture industry.