Egersund, Norway - Navico Holding AS, parent company to the Simrad brand of navigational marine electronics, has reached an agreement to acquire MARIS (Maritime Information Systems A/S) from The Grieg Group.
MARIS is a leading supplier of data solutions to the commercial maritime sector related to navigation, voyage optimization, and voyage monitoring. With well over 10,000 navigation systems delivered, MARIS is one of the leading suppliers of ECDIS systems globally. This strategic acquisition is a significant milestone in Navico's continued investment in the commercial marine sector.
The well-established and quality proven MARIS ECDIS, radar/ARPA overlay to ECDIS, and VDR solutions naturally complement Navico's extensive Simrad product portfolio. MARIS innovative electronic chart distribution, chart management, navigation and fleet management data solutions are recognized by leading fleet owners and operators worldwide as some of the most innovative in the industry. Combining MARIS capabilities in telematics solutions for deep-sea vessels with Navico's GoFree™ on board wireless and telemetry solutions, and digital services for recreational and small commercial vessels will firmly establish the marine industry innovation leader for telematics and big data solutions.
Additionally, MARIS brings an extensive service network of more than 70 locations and more than 100 certified ECDIS training centers worldwide to Simrad's network of over 150 certified dealers. The combination of the service and training networks provides exceptional coverage for the combined customer base.
The full MARIS product portfolio and the MARIS brand will be integrated into the Simrad product portfolio as the Simrad MARIS series. The expanded products and services offer will bring tremendous value for both Simrad and MARIS customers.
Leif Ottosson, President & CEO of Navico Holding AS, commented on the acquisition: "The commercial marine market is a strategic priority for our growth ambitions and we intend to continue to make a substantial impact within this sector. Few marine electronics companies today are investing as much as Navico. We see tremendous opportunity for innovation and consolidation in this industry. Adding MARIS to the Navico Group strengthens our strategy to achieve those ambitions."
Jose Herrero, EVP and Managing Director of Navico's Commercial Marine Division, said: "With the acquisition of MARIS, we will obtain very strong navigational technologies, a world-class team and a great set of complementary assets, to drive our continued expansion and success within this sector. ECDIS will be a core component in the development towards e-navigation. The strong ECDIS and navigation data services offering of MARIS together with our SIMRAD portfolio of type approved products such as ARPA radar, GNSS, AIS, Autosteering, and Gyros, position Navico as a key player to lead that development."
Ole Berg, CEO of Maris said: "Maris is looking forward to join Navico. We are sure the group will give us the ability to strengthen the offering to our customers in terms of products, services and new technologies. Specifically, we will benefit from Navico's cost effective and quality proven hardware platform.
"We also believe that we can add valuable web-based services to already existing digital services of Navico. This acquisition will also offer an attractive opportunity for our employees to become a key part of a larger successful organization in our current market."
For more information on Navico visit www.navico.com, to find out more about the Simrad product range, visit http://pro.simrad-yachting.com. For more information on MARIS visit http://www.maris.no.
About Navico: Navico is the world's #1 provider of marine electronics to the recreational segment and is an innovative force within the commercial marine market. The combination of Simrad, Lowrance and B&G brands has created a truly global company with products including navigation, fishfinders, radars, auto-steering, communication and racing performance systems for the marine market. Navico Holding AS is majority owned by the Altor 2003 Fund.
About Simrad: The foremost professional marine electronics brand, Simrad is synonymous with the highest quality products, from award-winning auto-steering, to radar, ECDIS, GPS, compasses, fishing echosounders, and instruments. Rugged, reliable and easy to use electronics with innovative features are the bedrock of all Simrad products. Serving a wide market such as tugboats, patrol and navy, fishing vessels, passenger ferries, cruise ships, and cargo vessels, Simrad systems integrate with any professional craft. Visit pro.simrad-yachting.com to find out more.
Today the Simrad name is used by two distinct companies: one of these is Simrad part of Kongsberg Maritime AS and dedicated to the manufacture of electronic instruments for professional fish finding and fishery research. The other is Simrad Yachting part of Navico and dedicated to the manufacture of electronic instruments for navigation, fish finding, and communication for recreational and commercial customers.
About MARIS: MARIS is a limited company with its head office in Tønsberg, Norway, a recognized center for maritime information technology. MARIS has supplied more than 10,000 navigation systems to customers in 40 countries. The roots of MARIS can be traced to the start of the maritime information technology explosion in the mid-1960s. MARIS is a system house with world-class experience in onboard systems. Its innovative engineering has delivered several world firsts, including the MARIS Wheelmark™ certified ECDIS and PC Radar/ARPA systems, IEC 60945 certified Flat Panel Computer and VDR/sVDR systems. Learn more at www.maris.no
