Image: (left to right) Henrik Hyldahn, CEO of ShipServ and Jens Poulsen, Marcura Group CEO
The Marcura Group has announced its acquisition of ShipServ, a prominent maritime online procurement platform and marketplace. This strategic merger signifies a significant milestone for both entities and is set to be finalized in the forthcoming weeks. The union will harness the combined expertise and resources of both organizations, leading to the creation of an innovative, customer-centric platform dedicated to the Blue Economy. This move will bring together ShipServ’s 126 employees and Marcura’s existing team of 850, resulting in a formidable workforce catering to a shared customer base of 800 top-tier maritime clients and an expansive network of 47,000 maritime suppliers worldwide.
Jens Poulsen, CEO of Marcura Group, expressed his enthusiasm for the merger, stating, “The fusion of Marcura and ShipServ establishes a preeminent vertical software, data, payments, and procurement platform with a laser focus on the maritime sector.” Poulsen highlighted the shared commitment to industry expertise and customer satisfaction, emphasizing how this alignment will drive product evolution and enhance value for clients.
Henrik Hyldahn, CEO of ShipServ, echoed this sentiment, noting that the collaboration is a natural fit. Hyldahn elaborated, “Marcura and ShipServ complement each other perfectly, merging extensive product offerings and market presence under a unified platform.” He emphasized that this partnership will leverage the strengths of both companies’ maritime experience, customer dedication, and innovative drive.
The benefits of this integration are multifaceted. Marcura, renowned for its suite of solutions in port spend management, compliance, and more, will synergize with ShipServ’s expertise in procurement, logistics monitoring, and pricing data. This integration is poised to deliver amplified customer experiences and innovative solutions, addressing the industry’s growing demand for digitalization, efficiency, and compliance.
ShipServ’s brand identity will remain intact, continuing to operate as a separate company even within the broader Marcura Group. This acquisition is steered by Marlin Equity Partners, a global investment firm with a significant stake in Marcura since August 2022. Jan-Olivier Fillols, Board Director of Marcura and Managing Director of Marlin, expressed his confidence in the partnership, emphasizing the combined suite of solutions that will set the companies apart in the market.
This acquisition reflects the maritime industry’s drive towards innovation and collaboration. With Marcura’s acquisition of ShipServ, the horizon of possibilities for enhanced maritime solutions expands further.
