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Oakley Capital acquires maritime e-learning businesses Videotel and SeagullOakley Capital acquires maritime e-learning businesses Videotel and Seagull

Private equity (PE) fund Oakley Capital Investments is acquiring e-learning businesses Videotel and Seagull from KVH Industries and another PE fund Herkules Private Equity Fund IV.

Marcus Hand, Editor

May 14, 2019

1 Min Read
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KVH has sold Viedotel for $90m to Oakley Capital as it looks to increase its investment in photonic integrated chip technology, AgilePlans acceleration, and Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity.

“As part of our long-term strategic roadmap, we are focusing on the large and growing markets of our core mobile connectivity and inertial navigation businesses,” said Martin Kits van Heyningen, ceo of KVH. “We intend to use the net proceeds of the sale to invest in three key growth initiatives that we expect will drive significant value creation, as well as to reduce our debt.”

Oakley Capital is also acquiring is also acquiring Seagull with Oscar Johansen, chairman and founder of Seagull, taking up the role of president of the combined group, while Roger Ringstad and Raal Harris will continue to lead Seagull and Videotel, respectively. No further operational changes are planned for the two companies.

A significant opportunity is seen for e-learning providers in maritime with the digitalisation of the industry and an increasing burden of regulation. “In combining our expertise and sharing the additional resources that an ambitious and forward-thinking company like Oakley can provide, we will be able to meet the needs of our customers in ways never previously possible,” Harris, md of Videotel commented.

Ringstad, md of Seagull said: “As the shipping industry continues to make advancements in digitalisation, we see significant opportunities to further enhance the breadth and depth of products and services we offer our clients. In Videotel and Oakley we believe that we have the perfect partners to support us on that journey.”

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KVH

About the Author

Marcus Hand

Editor

Marcus Hand is the editor of Seatrade Maritime News and a dedicated maritime journalist with over two decades of experience covering the shipping industry in Asia.

Marcus is also an experienced industry commentator and has chaired many conferences and round tables. Before joining Seatrade at the beginning of 2010, Marcus worked for the shipping industry journal Lloyd's List for a decade and before that the Singapore Business Times covering shipping and aviation.

In November 2022, Marcus was announced as a member of the Board of Advisors to the Singapore Journal of Maritime Talent and Technology (SJMTT) to help bring together thought leadership around the key areas of talent and technology.

Marcus is the founder of the Seatrade Maritime Podcast that delivers commentary, opinions and conversations on shipping's most important topics.

Conferences & Webinars

Marcus Hand regularly moderates at international maritime events. Below you’ll find a list of selected past conferences and webinars.

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