Breaking News: Molslinjen acquires ForSea

By | 2022 Newsletter week 45 | No Comments

With the support of EQT Infrastructure, Molslinjen A/S has entered into a final agreement to acquire ForSea from Igneo Infrastructure Partners.

ForSea is the sole operator of ferries between Helsingør, Denmark and Helsingborg, Sweden, providing ferry services via a single ferry route strategically located at the nearest point between the two countries (approx. 4 km).

As a true “floating bridge”, the ForSea ferries are an integral part of the Nordic transport infrastructure network and carry six million passengers, one million passenger cars and 450,000 trucks across the Öresund every year.

The company operates 5 ferries across the route, 2 of which are electric and a third is scheduled for electric operation – setting a clear path to full decarbonisation of the fleet within this decade.

Molslinjen was acquired by EQT Infrastructure in 2021.

The transaction is subject to approval by the Swedish and Danish competition authorities and is expected to be completed in early 2023. The parties have agreed not to disclose the selling price.

Molslinjen bets on Denmark’s domestic market

By | 2022 Newsletter week 43 | No Comments
  • From Easter 2023, a fast ferry will leave the Ystad-Bornholm route, as it will be replaced by newbuilding EXPRESS 5. This will allow a four-ferry operation on the Kattegat with more departures from both Aarhus and Ebeltoft.
  • Four fast ferries the Kattegat has been Molslinjen’s plan since 2012, when the first large fast ferries were deployed. And from Easter 2023 the dream will come true.
  • “Danes are increasingly staying at home and taking holidays domestically. Therefore, the private market is increasing right now, and we would like to support that growth by having four ferries in operation on the Kattegat”, says Molslinjen’s commercial director, Jesper Skovgaard.
  • The new ferry on the Kattegat will either be EXPRESS 1 or the fast ferry MAX. The decision on which ferry will remain on Bornholm awaits the upcoming elections and a decision in the new Ministry of Transport.
  • Ebeltoft departures will increase from 294 in 2022 to 656 in 2023 or 123% in the period March to October.
  • At the same time, capacity is freed up to Aarhus, which will be expanded from 8,430 departures in 2022 to 8,628 departures in 2023, or an increase of 2.3%.
  • That gives up to 32 daily departures between Jutland and Zealand.

Molslinjen wins two ‘green’ tenders

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The Danish Ministry of Transport has announced that Molslinjen, after two tenders, will be awarded the next ten years for the ferry routes Alslinjen (Bøjden — Fynshav) and Samsølinjen (Kalundborg — Ballen)

Both routes will in future be operated by electric ferries powered by green electricity. The two ships will set completely new standards for electric ferries in Denmark.

NIB finances EQT-backed Molslinjen and Torghattens’ sustainability transformation in Denmark and Norway

By | 2022 Newletter week 16 | No Comments

NIB has signed a 7-year loan agreement with a EQT owned company to finance capital expenditures relating to electric ferries operated by Molslinjen A/S in Denmark and Torghatten AS in Norway.

The EUR 84.71 million loan, which is fully eligible to be funded by NIB Environmental Bond proceeds, will be key in realising EQT Infrastructure’s ferry capital expenditure programme during 2021-2026.

EQT Infrastructure is combining the two leading ferry companies, Molslinjen and Torghatten, under one common holding vehicle to establish a pan-Nordic floating bridge and island-to-mainland transportation infrastructure champion. The combined entity will become the leading maritime transportation company located in one of the most attractive and creditworthy regions, with a strong and resilient financial profile underpinned by robust cash flow visibility and a highly diversified route and contract portfolio.

Refinancing of Torghatten and Molslinjen

By | 2022 Newsletter week 14 | No Comments

Norway’s investment bank ‘DNB Markets’ said in a LinkedIn post that it acted as Debt Advisor in the NOK 14.3 billion Sustainability-Linked Joint Refinancing of Torghatten and Molslinjen on behalf of EQT Infrastructure.

EQT Infrastructure is combining the two leading ferry companies, Molslinjen and Torghatten, under one common holding vehicle to establish a pan-Nordic “floating bridge” and “island-to-mainland” transportation infrastructure champion.

“The combined entity will become the leading maritime transportation company located in one of the most attractive and creditworthy regions, with a strong and resilient financial profile underpinned by robust cash flow visibility and a highly diversified route and contract portfolio,” says DNB Markets.

Fanø Gets Its First Electric Ferry

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Molslinjen’s brand new electric ferry GROTTE was put into operation on October 1st on the route between Esbjerg and Fanø. ‘

GROTTE was design by OSK Group and built at Hvide Sande Shipyard.

It was built according to exactly the same design as the two current ferries, FENJA and MENJA, which for many years have shown their efficiency in the short Danish domestic route between Esbjerg and Nordby on the island of Fanø.

The ferries FENJA and MENJA have just switched to fossil-free biofuel. The three ferries together will reduce emissions by up to 96 percent.

EQT Infrastructure Now Owns Molslinjen

By | 2021 Newsletter week 9 | No Comments

Following the approval of the EU competition authorities, EQT Infrastructure is now the formal owner of Molslinjen.

  • Danish Sampension will be a new minority investor in Molslinjen
  • Experienced industry experts join the company’s board
  • The new chairman of the board of Molslinjen will be Niels Smedegaard. (ex CEO DFDS)
  • Merete Eldrup will also be part of the new board (ex CEO of TV 2 Denmark)

“We look forward to the collaboration with many new competencies in the new Board of Directors, and we are pleased that with the combination of EQT Infrastructure and Danish pension funds we get a strong starting point for an exciting future for Molslinjen”, says Carsten Jensen, CEO of Molslinjen.