V.GROUP acquired by STAR CAPITAL / ACKERMANS & VAN HAAREN AVH

The European investment fund manager STAR Capital, acting alongside Ackermans & van Haaren, signs a definitive stake acquisition to take absolute majority control of V.Group from the exiting financial sponsor Advent International. Following the successful completion of all regulatory consents, this definitive leveraged buyout concludes a competitive process initially announced in June 2024, formally transferring majority control of the maritime services platform during the early autumn of 2024. The financial architecture orchestrating this cross-border transfer of ownership requires substantial capital commitments from the incoming institutional partners, notably including a dedicated one hundred and fifty million dollar equity investment provided by Ackermans & van Haaren to secure a precisely calibrated 33.3 percent ownership stake in the new consolidated holding structure. For the exiting financial sponsor, this outright divestiture successfully concludes an extensive eight-year investment cycle that commenced in 2016, when Advent International originally acquired its majority position from Omers Private Equity. Strategically, the incoming European fund manager intends to deploy capital from its dedicated STAR IV Fund (representing the vehicle's fourth major platform investment) to establish a strong financial foundation capable of accelerating the target's existing client-focused growth trajectory. By aligning deep shipping sector experience with long-term investment horizons, the acquiring partners aim to vigorously consolidate the highly fragmented technical management and marine services market. This institutional backing directly empowers the maritime operator to further enhance its steadfast commitments to shipowners and seafarers, while actively supporting the ongoing strategic development of its comprehensive digital and operational services platform. Co-CEO of Ackermans & van Haaren, Piet Dejonghe, alongside STAR Partner Aditya Bindal, emphasizes that this external growth maneuver perfectly complements their respective portfolios by internalizing a dominant brand with a proven safety record. Consequently, this secondary buyout seamlessly transitions the company away from its previous private equity ownership, fully equipping the executive leadership to aggressively pursue supplementary maritime outsourcing contracts globally.