GAC acquires Finnish ship agency in the Baltic Sea region

THE GAC Group has strengthened its Baltic Sea region coverage with the acquisition of Finnish ship agency, John Nurminen Navis Oy (JNN).

JNN is a leading shipping agent in Finland and a subsidiary of the John Nurminen Group, handles up to 3,000 ship calls at year at major Finnish commercial ports through its own offices in Helsinki, Porvoo, Kotka, Turku, Naantali and Rauma and the company's network of sub agencies.

Under the new agreement the company has been re-branded GAC-Nurminen Navis Oy.

Erland Ebbersten, GAC Group vice president-Europe, Mediterranean, Black and Caspian seas, and Africa, said JNN's standing in the local market and client base of international and domestic shipping and chartering principals made it an ideal candidate for acquisition to help drive GAC's development strategy in the Baltic Sea region.

"JNN is strongly represented in key sectors such as oil tankers, chemical carriers, dry bulk, and cruise ships," he said. "These are all areas where GAC is strong globally, so this acquisition makes perfect sense to help us continue to thrive in the long term."

The addition of Finland to the GAC network boosts the group's growing presence also in the Nordic region, which has steadily grown since its majority stake acquisition of Ole R Olsen in Norway in 2007, followed by an alliance formed with Pole Position AS in Spitsbergen last year and the opening of new offices in Bergen and Sandnessjoen during 2010, a company statement said.
(Source:www.schednet.com)