Mørenot has strengthened its presence in Trøndelag with the purchase of all the entire shareholding in Hepsø Notservice, providing Mørenot with the base it has been looking for in Norway’s largest aquaculture region.
The acquisition of Hepsø Notservice follows the purchase earlier this year of Steigen company Bøteriet, making Mørenot the market leader in service services for the aquaculture industry with a presence close to farming companies along the entire coast in Norway.
“With its long experience in fishing, the Hepsø family has built up Hepsø Notservice into a leading company with strong relationships with its customers and a safe and good workplace for the employees. It has invested heavily in expertise and equipment at what has become a state of the art service station. We are now looking forward to continuing the good work and look forward to getting started,” said Mørenot CEO Arne Birkeland.
Hepsø Notservice, which offers service and repair of equipment for the aquaculture industry, has ten employees at its facility in Steinsdalen. The company has grown steadily over several years and reached a record turnover of more than NoK21 million in 2018.
Oddbjørn Ovesen has been general manager of Hepsø Notservice since 2006, and continues with responsibility for the business in Osen as it becomes an important part of Mørenot's business in Trøndelag.
“Together with our service facilities at Vevang, south of Kristiansund, and Øksningan, at Sandnessjøen, Hepsø Notservice will enable us to serve customers in Møre og Romsdal, Trøndelag and Nordland. We can also utilise the capacity of our various service plants even better. Now that we are present along the entire coast with a complete service network for the aquaculture industry, we also see opportunities for building an even larger business based on our broad product portfolio,” Arne Birkeland commented.
Investment fund FSN Capital V bought into Mørenot last year to, together with the local entrepreneurial families, aiming to further develop the Group's already strong position in aquaculture and fisheries.
“It is very satisfying that Mørenot continues its strategy with an increasing presence along the coast. Local investments and jobs are important for creating good coastal competence, and highlighting the positive effects of fish farming and fisheries. Hepsø Notservice and the employees in Osen are a fantastic addition to Mørenot and will contribute to the company's further growth,” said FSN Capital investment manager Ola Kvalheim.
“Hepsø Notservice is a typical rock-solid family business rooted in local jobs and a desire to create competitive economic activity in a small local community. Credit is due to the Hepsø family and Oddbjørn for the work they have done while we welcome them to Mørenot to together create a forward-looking business to support customers in the seafood industry, now and in the future,” he said.
“We have been a Mørenot customer through our fishing activities for many years and know the company and the people there well,” said Hepsø Notservice co-owner Audhild Hepsø.
“We have great faith in Mørenot's ambitions and strategy in the future and will become a significant shareholder in the group.”
