MSC to acquire Italian towage firm Rimorchiatori Mediterranei

Rimorchiatori Mediterranei has operations in Italy, Singapore, Greece, Norway, Malaysia, Malta and Colombia. It’s owner Rimorchiatori Riuniti celebrates its 100^th anniversary this year, and has agreed along with DWS Group’s infrastructure business a sale of 100% of the share capital in Rimorchiatori Mediterranei to MSC.

Terms of the deal were not revealed, and it remains subject to approvals and competition authority clearance.

Gregorio Gavarone, Executive President of Rimorchiatori Riuniti, said: “We believe Rimorchiatori Riuniti, together with DWS, has done an incredible job over the past few years to support Rimorchiatori Mediterranei in becoming one of the leading towage companies in the world. Thanks to its global network in shipping and port operations, we think MSC is going to be the ideal investor to accompany Rimorchiatori Mediterranei towards its next growth chapter.”

Hamish Mackenzie, Head of Infrastructure at DWS, said: “The evolution of Rimorchiatori Mediterranei has been a considerable success story for DWS; we are grateful for the strategic partnership we developed with Rimorchiatori Riuniti and its shareholders, and we are proud to have supported our industrial partner in managing and growing Rimorchiatori Mediterranei to become one of the global leaders in the harbour towage sector.

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Diego Aponte, MSC Group President, said: “We are very pleased to be able to become part of the exciting next phase for growth and improvement at Rimorchiatori Mediterranei and we look forward to continuing to expand the business, building on the impressive work of the families that developed the company these past 100 years.”

Rimorchiatori Riuniti Group will continue its operations in ship owning, ship management, and offshore activities through the 100% controlled companies Crystal Pool and Finarge.