Maritime CEO

MacGregor: Further acquisitions possible

Helsinki: Despite turbulence caused by the falling oil price, equipment manufacturer MacGregor is still eyeing more acquisitions.

With Mika Vehviläinen, the boss of parent firm Cargotec, in temporary charge since last June, MacGregor has bedded down recent takeovers and is now looking at other possible buys.

In the past 15 months MacGregor has bought many companies including Hatlapa, Triplex, Pusnes, Porsgrunn and Woodfield.

“We are always open for new business opportunities,” Vehviläinen tells Maritime CEO.

Vehviläinen, however, is pragmatic and realizes the current issues facing maritime and offshore present some difficulties.

“The oil price turbulence has already set challenges on the whole industry,” he says of the offshore sector, adding: “However, the long term sentiment remains the same and positive. For commercial shipping, Vehviläinen sees moderate growth this year.

“The imbalance of supply and demand in the shipping market has continued,” he says, “and the weaker economic outlook is delaying market balance further ahead. However, the merchant shipping market pick up is already on the way, albeit not at a speed many want to see.”

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