AP Moller Holding takes over Ocean Yield

Maersk AP Moller Holding has agreed to acquire Norwegian shipleasing specialist Ocean Yield from funds managed by US investment company Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR). No price was disclosed for the deal, which will see a subsidiary of the Danish investment company take 100% of the Lysaker-based owner. Under KKR ownership, Ocean Yield invested more than $3bn in its fleet and nearly doubled its long-term contracted backlog to more than $5bn. The deal brings Ocean Yield into the AP Moller Group’s maritime portfolio, adding a large shipleasing platform with contracted cash flows across several shipping segments. Ocean Yield owns interests in more than 70 vessels across gas carriers, LNG carriers, containerships, crude, product and chemical tankers, dry bulk carriers and offshore vessels. Martin Larsen, chief financial officer of AP Moller Holding, said Ocean Yield’s business model is “an excellent complement” to the group’s existing maritime portfolio. Andreas Røde, chief executive officer of Ocean Yield, said the company had been built into a globally diversified leasing platform since KKR took it private in 2021. KKR acquired Ocean Yield in a take-private deal worth about $830m after the company had spent nine years listed in Oslo. Ocean Yield has continued to grow in LNG under KKR. Splash reported last year that the company moved further into the sector through a joint investment with KKR in CapeOmega, which has exposure to 10 LNG carriers operated by Knutsen LNG and fixed to Shell, Engie and QatarEnergy. KKR will remain a strategic partner to Ocean Yield through the CapeOmega Gas Transportation investment. The acquisition follows a wider buildout of AP Moller Holding’s maritime interests. The Danish group acquired Maersk Supply Service in 2023, while Maersk Tankers completed its acquisition of Penfield Marine at the beginning of 2024. AP Moller Holding also took tug owner Svitzer private last year after a voluntary offer for all shares. Completion of the Ocean Yield transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals. Adis Ajdin Adis is an experienced news reporter with a background in finance, media and education. He has written across the spectrum of offshore energy and ocean industries for many years and is a member of International Federation of Journalists. Previously he had written for Navingo media group titles including Offshore Energy, Subsea World News and Marine Energy. Read Next July 2, 2026 Wagenborg and Carisbrooke line up ice-class newbuilds in China July 2, 2026 Bangladesh’s Akij books four bulker newbuilds in China July 2, 2026 Seanergy turns to Euronext Athens for fleet expansion July 2, 2026 UCL launches ship-level climate risk tool for financiers July 2, 2026 Hormuz dispute shifts from access to control