NHV Group becomes one of the largest European helicopter operators by acquiring Blueway and operating the first two EC175s
Ostend, December 19, 2014. NHV, a fast growing international helicopter operator, announces today that it has completed the acquisition of Blueway, making it one of the largest European helicopter transport operators.
In line with its growth strategy, and in order to provide even more efficient services to its clients, NHV, supported by its shareholder Ardian and its founder and CEO, Eric van Hal, has ordered 16 Airbus Helicopters EC175. With the delivery of the first two on December 11th, the first commercial flights have already been performed for oil and gas missions, making the NHV Group the first operator of this new generation of helicopters. These additions reaffirm NHV’s position as owning and operating one of the youngest, state-of-the-art and safest fleets in the industry. With the acquisition of Blueway, the NHV Group becomes the only operator with a presence in all Oil and Gas producing countries in the North Sea region, as well as a leading position in West Africa. The combined group now employs around 650 people across the globe, with a combined turnover of US$270 million.
About NHV Group
The various companies in the NHV Group are: NHV, DanCopter A/S, Blueway Offshore Norge AS, Vertech Offshore As and Airlift AS. NHV Group, based in Ostend, Belgium, is specialized in Business-to-Business aviation services and has strong geographic presence in the North Sea, with a solid track record of rapid international expansion and a leading position in Western Africa (Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria). NHV, Blueway Offshore Norge and DanCopter delivers offshore crew change services in the North Sea and selected locations world-wide. In addition NHV also operates in the market segments of Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (“HEMS”) and Maritime Services, which include Search and Rescue (“SAR”), offshore Wind Turbines and Harbor Pilot Services. Vertech Offshore is the market leader in flare tip replacement by helicopter on offshore installations globally. Airlift is the leading supplier in Norway of power grid construction and maintenance services. Airlift is also a leading supplier of people transport, services to the telecom industry, construction, avalanche safety and power plant construction sites. NHV Group operates a diverse fleet of 62 helicopters in total (EC225, AS332L2, AS332C, EC175, AW139, EC155B1, AS365, EC145, MD Explorer, and AS350) with a solid order book of 16 helicopters (14 EC175, 2AW139) for the coming 3 years.
www.nhv.be
About Ardian
Ardian, founded in 1996 and led by Dominique Senequier, is a premium independent private investment company with assets of US$47bn managed or advised in Europe, North America and Asia. The company, which is majority-owned by its employees, keeps entrepreneurship at its heart and delivers investment performance to its global investors while fuelling growth in economies across the world. Ardian’s investment process embodies three values: excellence, loyalty and entrepreneurship. Ardian maintains a truly global network, with more than 330 employees working through ten offices in Paris, London, New York, Beijing, Frankfurt, Jersey, Luxembourg, Milan, Singapore and Zurich. The company offers its 300 investors a diversified choice of funds covering the full range of asset classes, including Fund of Funds (primary, early secondary and secondary), Direct Funds including Infrastructure, Expansion, Mid Cap Buyout, Ardian Croissance, Co-Investment and Private Debt.
www.ardian-investment.com
PRESS CONTACTS
NHV
ERIC VAN HAL
+32 59 306 168
ericvanhal@nhv.be
Ardian
Headland
FRANCESCA TUCKETT
Tel: +44 207 3675232
Mobile: +44 7884 667 661
ftuckett@headlandconsultancy.com