Québec’s shipbuilding industry is consolidating with the acquisition of the Verreault shipyard by Groupe Océan, which is strengthening its presence in this niche.
Posted at 11:14 am
Julien Arsenault The press
The transaction, announced on Wednesday, the amount of which was not specified, allows Groupe Océan, which counts the Caisse de dépôt et Placement du Québec (CDPQ) and the Fonds de solidarité FTQ among its shareholders, to get its hands on the Verreaults Gaspé Facilities – a family business established in 1956.
“The combination of our expertise with that of the Verreault shipyard embodies our desire to expand our service offering for the benefit of our customers,” Groupe Océan President and CEO Jacques Tanguay said in a press release.
Specializing in shipbuilding and repair, port towing and dredging, the company already operates shipyards in L’Isle-aux-Coudres and in Quebec City, where its headquarters are located.
With this acquisition, it sees itself positioned “even better” for “larger-scale” projects, in particular the national shipbuilding strategy of the federal government.
Ocean Group has more than 1,000 employees. In addition to Quebec, it is present in Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia and the Caribbean.